Why did an Iranian thank Israel in Tokyo?

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 2 Years ago
Saeid Mallaei
Saeid Mallaei

 

New Delhi

While an Algerian judoka openly refused to play against his Israeli rival in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics citing his support for Palestine, an Iran-born player dedicated his silver medal to the Jewish State in the same event.

“Todah,” said Saeid Mallaei, a former Iranian judoka now representing Mongolia, afer  winning the silver medal in the men’s 81-kilogram category. It means “Thank you” in Hebrew.

Why would an Iranian sportperson be beholden to another State?

Saeid Mollaei’s is an interesting story of human morals and sportsmanship. He’s a former Iranian judoka team member who was once perplexed to get orders from his Iranian coach that he must lose in the semifinals of the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo so that he doesn’t have to face Israel’s Sagi Muki sraeli in thefinals.

This was repulsive for a genuine sportsperson and he left Iran for Germany and acquired Mangolian citizenship. Two year’s after he left his native country, it was his first Olympic medal.

Mollaei told the Israeli Sports Channel that he was thankful for the support he’s received from Israel over the years.

“Thank you to Israel for the good energy. This medal is dedicated also to Israel,” he told the network and added “Todah,” (thank you).

Despite his defeat in the Tokyo Olympics, Sagi Moki congratulated Saeed Malai on his victory.

Saeid Mallaei and Sagi Moki

Moki told the media,"I am very happy with Saeed's success. He deserved the medal after the circumstances and events he faced. Saeed is a close friend  and I am happy that his dream of winning an Olympic medal came true.

According to a report in the Times of Israel Mollaei and Muki became friends following the highly publicized incident at the 2019 World Championships, and have cheered each other on over the past few years. A documentary is being made on their friendship.

In February, Mollaei competed at the Grand Slam international judo competition held in Tel Aviv, also taking home the silver, and told the mediaN that Israel had been “very good to me since I arrived.”

“The Israeli judo team members have been very kind. That is something I will never forget,” he added

In the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, Algerian judo player Fathi Nouri had publicly refused to play with an Israeli player, saying he was doing so in order to raise his voice in favor of Palestine.

Sudan's Mohammed Abdul Rasu also did not face the Israeli in the 73 kg category.

The International Judo Federation imposed a four-year ban on the Iranian Judo Federation in April after Tehran demanded that its players should not be made to face Israeli rivals.