Kuwaiti fencer withdraws from FIE Senior World Cup Istanbul to avoid Israeli opponent

Kuwaiti fencer Abdulaziz Alshatti has withdrawn from the 2023 Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) Senior World Cup contests in Turkey to avoid facing an Israeli contestant over support for the Palestinian cause and refusal of normalization with the Tel Aviv regime.

The 32-year-old athlete pulled out of the competitions in Istanbul as soon as he found out he was scheduled to take on an Israeli competitor.

“I withdrew from the tournament because of the presence of a representative from the Zionist entity in the same group,” Alshatti wrote in an Arabic-language post published on his Instagram page.

He added, “My trust in God is great, and goodness is coming with His permission. His generosity is not delayed, but rather comes at the right time.”

Back in November 2018, Alshatti quit the World Fencing Championship in Switzerland over a draw that set him on course for a match-up against an Israeli opponent.

Last September, Kuwaiti karate fighter Mohammad al-Otaibi withdrew from the 2022 Karate 1-Premier League contests in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku not to face an Israeli contestant.

Otaibi was set to participate in the male kumite 60-kilogram division of the international tournament. He, however, pulled out of the competitions as soon as he found out he was scheduled to take on Israeli competitor Ronen Gehtbarg.

In May 2021, Kuwait’s National Assembly unanimously approved bills that outlaw any deals or normalization of ties with the Tel Aviv regime.

MG