Sport and politics should not be mixed, but this has long been out of the agenda as an option.
It was a political intervention that left a young man homeless two years ago. His name is Saeid Molay and he was born in the capital of Iran – Tehran. Until 2019, she is one of the biggest stars of Iranian judo, but now, on the eve of the Olympics in Tokyo, she is flying the flag of another country.
Saeid has been the world champion since 2018, and during his triumph in Baku he hardly realized what kind of carousel awaited him 12 months later, when he defended his title at the world championship in Tokyo.
Then the long arm of politics intervenes in the sport. The judoka confidently goes to a new final, but right on the last step before defending the title he receives an order that shocks the sports world. The Iranian Minister of Sports and the presidents of the local federation and the Olympic Committee ordered their representative to deliberately lose his semifinal match in order not to face Sagi Muki from Israel in the final match.
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Photo: Getty Images
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The two countries have been in open conflict for more than 35 years, with Israeli accusations that the Iranians support anti-Israel groups and the Persian state’s nuclear program, while Iran is dissatisfied with Israel’s ties with its enemies such as Saudi Arabia. and the United States, as well as the support of anti-Iranian rebel groups.
Saeid, like most elite athletes, does not want to be a political pawn, and the order of the leading factors leads to punishment for Iranian judo. The athlete himself is afraid to return home and shortly after the championship he receives asylum from Germany.
His potential rival in that match, Muki, supported him all the time, despite the relations between the two countries, and only a few months after the incident, Molay received an offer to compete for Mongolia.
“I am a fighter. And I want to fight everywhere. But I live in a country where the laws don’t allow it. They leave me with no choice. I could have been a champion “, says the former star of Iran after the event of the championship in Japan.
If you are wondering – he loses his semifinal match. The stress is enormous, and the consequences for his family if he wins would be fatal. He thinks of his loved ones, and then he has no strength in the battle for third place, where he also gives way.
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Photo: Getty Images
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He will probably never return to what he called “home” for most of his life.
After receiving refugee status in Germany, he accepted the Mongolian offer and is now, with his new passport, in Tel Aviv. And he can indeed face Muki, but now as a Mongolian citizen.
The Iranian side continues its attacks on the former local hero, with the country’s federation calling the news of his involvement on Israeli soil a “shameful spot” and criticizing him for “turning his back on the ideals of the system in his home country.”
Israeli judoka Muki does not think so, but sees his meeting with Saeed as “A great example for the whole world.”
“This is something that can bring Iran and Israel closer together. It shows that sport brings people together and breaks down boundaries, ”he said.
Saeed himself avoids speaking on the subject, but his participation in Israeli territory is more than an eloquent statement.
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