Iranian world judo champion Arash Miresmaili, who carried his country's flag in Friday's olympic games opening ceremony, has pulled out of the tournament because he refused to fight an Israeli.
The 23-year-old, twice a winner of the flyweight (under 66kg) world title, opted not to take on first round opponent Ehud Vaks of Israel as an express of support for Palestine.
"Although I have trained for months and was in good shape I refused to fight my Israeli opponent to sympathize with the suffering of the people of Palestine and I do not feel upset at all," Miresmaili told IRNA.
Students news agency ISNA quoted Iran's sports officials as saying Miresmaili still deserved the one billion Rial ($115,000) prize the Iranian olympic medal winners were promised by the Physical Education Organization.
"Miresmaili must receive a special prize as he was the prime candidate for a gold medal and I will do my best about it," said head of the Judo Federation, Mohammad Derakhshan. (albawaba.com)
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