Saudi Judo Competitor Forfeits Match To 'Avoid Israel' In Next Round: Reports

[ericson00]

http://www.newsweek.com/saudi-judo-competitor-forfeits-match-avoid-israeli-next-round-reports-488342

A Saudi judo competitor pulled out of her first-round match at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro on Sunday, ahead of a prospective second-round bout tie with an Israeli rival. However, Israeli and Saudi accounts offered different reasons for Joud Fahmy’s withdrawal.

Israeli press reports claimed Fahmy decided to leave the competition because she could meet Gili Cohen, a 25-year-old five-time Israeli champion, in the next round if she managed to secure a victory against Christianne Legentil from Mauritius.

But the Saudi Olympic Delegation tweeted that Fahmy’s withdrawal from the games was because of injuries she had picked up in training, and not for political reasons. The Saudi medical team had advised her not to participate, the tweet said.