Saudi Tahani Al-Qahtani Makes First Comment after Loss to Israeli Hershko

Saudi judoka Tahani Al-Qahtani commented on the controversy over her huge loss to her Israeli competitor, Raz Hershko, in the over 78kg weight category at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Al-Qahtani, 21, suffered a crushing defeat by Hershko, 23, in the match that brought them together in the 32nd round of the women's weight over 78 kg competitions.

"It was a normal match," Al-Qahtani told AFP. "I lost, but my feeling is normal and this is in the end a sport."

When asked about the controversy surrounding this game, Al-Qahtani added: "I'm not interested. I turned off my phone during the past two days."

Laughing, she indicated that she "shaken hands with the player three times", hinting that she is waiting for the reaction on social media, stressing that she is now looking "to the future, other competitions, and I may be in Paris 2024."

Members of the Saudi mission in Japan refused to comment on the match, saying only that "Al-Qahtani played and lost."

This confrontation comes in contrast to the wave of withdrawals announced by a number of Arab and Muslim athletes with Israeli players.

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