Kuwaiti gold medalist refuses handshake with 'Israeli' fighter at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

• 'Israeli' jiu-jitsu athlete Yoav Manor wins bronze at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam.
• Kuwaiti gold medalist refuses handshake and podium photo, triggering controversy.

An 'Israeli' athlete has secured a podium finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam jiu-jitsu tournament, while a post-match confrontation sparked controversy after his Kuwaiti opponent refused to participate in the medal ceremony traditions.

Yoav Manor earned bronze in the under-77 kilogram category after winning three of his four bouts at the prestigious event, part of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) circuit hosted in the United Arab Emirates.

The dispute unfolded during the medal ceremony when Kuwaiti competitor Jassim Alhatem, who won gold, reportedly refused to shake Manor’s hand or take part in the customary podium photo.

According to the 'Israeli' delegation, Alhatem told Manor: “You Israelis kill children,” and said he would not have competed against him if they had met in the final.

The Kuwaiti athlete then reportedly left the podium area despite attempts by organizers to encourage participation in the ceremony.

Despite the incident, Manor’s performance was highlighted as a strong showing in a competitive international field, with three victories on his way to a bronze medal finish.

Coaches and federation officials from the 'Israeli' delegation praised his conduct, saying he maintained focus on the sporting aspect of the competition despite the confrontation.

The Israeli delegation said Emirati organizers intervened during the incident in an effort to calm tensions and preserve the ceremony format.

Officials reportedly expressed regret over the disruption but proceeded with the event after the Kuwaiti athlete declined to participate.