Israeli judo team had a trying time getting to Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam – where as previously announced they were unable to compete under their own flag insignia.

Israel’s judo association issued a statement saying:

“We won’t be dragged into the political arena and won’t award prizes to those who want to deter us from appearing all over the world. Our goal is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the competitions on the way are a means of achieving the goal. There are some who are trying to prevent us from achieving this goal, who would be happy if Israelis don’t appear at the Olympics, but we won’t let them disturb us.”

However things have developed since then given that an Israeli man won gold – Israeli wins gold in Judo in Abu Dhabi, which refuses to show Israeli flag or play its national anthem. So he sings it quietly himself.

Wow. Israeli wins gold in Judo in Abu Dhabi, which refuses to show Israeli flag or play its national anthem. So he sings it quietly himself. pic.twitter.com/EuJbcP4wTu

— (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) October 26, 2017

 “Israel is my country,” Tal Flicker, world bronze medalist and now the number-one ranked 146 pounder Judoka, said on Israel’s Channel 2 News. “I’m proud to be Israeli. The anthem that they played was just background noise, I was singing ‘Ha’Tikvah’” (‘The Hope’, Israel’s national anthem).

Flicker said he made his mind up to sing the anthem anyway, while the IJF one played, the moment he won the final match. He went on Facebook and wrote: “Everyone in the world knows where we are from and what country we represent.”

Flicker said:

“I had a fantastic day, I’m really, really excited. I won the gold medal and I’m very proud to represent the country of Israel, especially on this stage, and this should place me as number one in the world again.”

Statement From Egyptian judoka Who Refused To Shake Israeli’s Hand