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Egyptian judoka won't shake hands after losing match to Israeli opponent

Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby refused to shake hands after losing to Ori Sasson on Friday.
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Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby refused to shake hands after losing to Israel’s Ori Sasson on Friday.

Sasson defeated Shehaby in the Round of 32 in the over-100 kilogram division. Sasson approached Shehaby with his hand extended after the match, by Shehaby backed away, refusing to acknowledge his opponent. 

The over-100 judo event was the only one Shehaby competed in during the Olympics. He previously won a bronze in the event at the 2010 Tokyo World Championships.

Sasson won silver at the European Judo Championships earlier this year.

Earlier in the Olympics, a Saudi Arabian judoka reportedly refused to compete in a first-round match to avoid a potential fight against Israeli Gili Cohen, while the Lebanese judo team would not allow members of the Israeli team on its bust due to political conflict.