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Malaysia refuses to grant Israel squash players entry

November 24, 2021 at 1:46 pm

People playing Squash on April 10, 2021 [REMKO DE WAAL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images]

Malaysia has refused to grant Israeli players entry to next month’s squash championships.

The Men’s World Team Squash Championship is due to be held in Malaysia on 7 December. Kuala Lumpur cited security concerns for its refusal to allow Israeli players entry.

According to Israeli media reports, Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia resident Gerard Monteiro said that Malaysia “would not be able to guarantee [Israeli players’] safety and well-being” during the games.

Israel and Malaysia do not have diplomatic relations.

The Israeli Squash Association said it plans to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if it is not resolved. Last month, Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saifuddin Abdullah, refuted Israeli claims that his country will join “the train of normalisation with the Zionist entity.”

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