Kuwait player refuses to face Israel opponent in fencing contest 

Kuwaiti fencing player Mohammad Al-Fadli yesterday refused to face an Israeli opponent in the group stage of the World Fencing Championships held in Dubai.

Arab activists took to social media to praise Al-Fadli for “opposing Arab countries’ normalisation with the Israeli occupation”, adding that his actions are “complementary to Kuwait’s supporting stance for the Palestinian cause.”

In September 2019, Al-Fadli withdrew from an international tournament in the Dutch capital  Amsterdam, after the lottery had placed him in a group competing with an Israeli player.

In recent years, multiple Kuwaiti athletes withdrew from different international tournaments after being pitted against Israeli opponents. They say their actions are in support of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights and rejection of normalising with the Israeli occupation.

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