Egypt’s Islam El Shehaby was booed when he refused to bow or shake his Israeli opponents hand after he was defeated by him at the Rio Olympics.
Or Sasson beat his opponent El Shehaby using two throws in their first round judo bout today.
But when the Israeli went to bow and then shake the hand of his opponent, as is the etiquette in judo, the Egyptian backed away and then shook his head.
El Shehaby had come under pressure to withdraw entirely from the fight from Islamist-leaning and nationalist voices, according to the Associated Press.
Mataz Matar, a TV host in Al-Sharq Islamist-leaning network, had also urged him to pull out, the Mail Online reported.
He said: ‘My son watch out, don’t be fooled, or fool yourself thinking you will play with the Israeli athlete to defeat him and make Egypt happy.
‘Egypt will cry; Egypt will be sad and you will be seen as a traitor and a normalizer in the eyes of your people.’
El Shehaby refused to comment afterwards but the International Judo Federation said it was progress that the fight went ahead.
Spokesman Nicolas Messner said: ‘This is already a big improvement that Arabic countries accept to (fight) Israel.
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