Lebanese chess player Sally Hamadeh withdrew from the fifth round of the World Chess Championship for age groups, in Georgia, in refusal to normalize, following she was drawn with an Israeli player.
The head of the Lebanese delegation, Major Jamal Shamiya, commented on Hamada’s withdrawal, saying that “the withdrawal came on the background of the nationality of the player who was supposed to confront Sally, who is Israeli.” He added: “There is no recognition of the enemy and no normalization with the aggressor occupier.”
Hamada’s withdrawal comes following the player Charbel Abu Daher withdrew from the World Mixed Martial Arts Championship in Abu Dhabi, refusing to face an Israeli player, as did his compatriot Abdullah Miniato, who had withdrawn from the same tournament that was held in Bulgaria, last year.
The player Nadia Fawaz withdrew from the fourth round of the Abu Dhabi International Open Game Festival, in refusal to normalize, following the lottery made her face an Israeli player.
