Shameful Antisemitism
Kuwaiti Athlete Pulls Out of European Open in Bucharest Over Israeli Matchup
Kuwaiti judoka Saqr Al-Kandari sparked outrage after storming out of the European Open to avoid fighting Israel’s Gili Cohen. another blatant politicized boycott that defies IJF rules and shames the spirit of sport. As Cohen advances by walkover, pressure mounts on the IJF to punish what Israeli officials call “antisemitic sabotage” on the tatami.
Kuwaiti judoka Saqr Al-Kandari withdrew from the European Open Judo Championships yesterday (Tuesday), refusing to compete against Israeli opponent Gili Cohen in the women's -52kg category.
The incident unfolded during the round of 16, where Al-Kandari, a 25-year-old rising star from Kuwait's national team, was drawn against Cohen, a 30-year-old Israeli bronze medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the referee called the athletes to the mat, Al-Kandari abruptly left the arena, citing personal reasons , widely interpreted as a boycott over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Cohen advanced via walkover, later telling reporters: "Sports should unite us, not divide. I'm disappointed, but focused on the fight ahead."
The European Open, organized by the International Judo Federation (IJF) as part of the IJF World Tour, drew over 400 competitors from 45 nations.
Al-Kandari's exit marks the latest in a series of high-profile refusals: In July 2021, Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine was banned for 10 years by the IJF after forfeiting an Olympic bout to avoid facing Israel's Tohar Butbul. Similar incidents have involved athletes from Iran, Lebanon, and Tunisia, often leading to suspensions under IJF rules prohibiting discrimination based on nationality. Kuwait, which does not recognize Israel and enforces a blanket boycott on official interactions, has seen its athletes fined or disqualified in past cases.
The Kuwait Olympic Committee has not commented, but Al-Kandari, who won gold at the 2024 Asian Cadet Championships, faces potential sanctions from the IJF, including a match-fixing probe or event ban. The IJF, which expelled Iran in 2019 for ordering athletes to lose against Israelis, reiterated its stance: "Judo is a sport of respect and fair play. We will review this incident thoroughly." Cohen went on to reach the quarterfinals, losing to a French opponent, while Israeli officials decried it as "antisemitic sabotage of sportsmanship."
This comes amid broader boycotts, including four European nations (Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia) withdrawing from Eurovision 2026 over Israel's participation.