Nourine was scheduled to face the Sudanese judoka Mohamed Abdalrasool in his first fight on Monday and the next round against the Israeli Tohar Butbul.
Representative picture. Reuters
Tokyo: Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics before competing after the draw put him on track for a possible duel against an Israeli opponent.
Nourine was due on Monday Compete in his first fight against the Sudanese judoka Mohamed Abdalrasool and in the next round against the Israeli Tohar Butbul.
Speaking to an Algerian television station late Thursday, Nourine said his political support for the Palestinian cause made him do it impossible to compete against an Israeli.
« We worked a lot to get to the Olympics … but the Palestinian cause is bigger than any of that, » he said, adding that his decision was « final » .
It’s not the first time that Nourine has retired from competition to evade an Israeli opponent after pulling out of the 2019 World Cup in Toki o has withdrawn.
Changed date:
July 23, 2021 1:23:05 pm IST
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The Olympics kicks off next week with Britain opening its group stage against Chile in Sapporo, then playing hosts Japan as well as Canada and Chile.
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When the fire is finally lit at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, a new era of athletes will have a chance to make history in the absence of a host of established stars.
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