Unsportsmanlike Behaviour

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 31 July 2024 A judo competitor representing Tajikistan refused to shake his Israeli opponent’s hand at the Paris Olympics and instead said “Allah u Akbar”. Nurali Emomali later dislocated his arm in a different fight, an incident Israel supporters described as “Karma”. Emomali, who won the match against Tohar Butbul, walked off the mat without making a respectful gesture to his Israeli opponent. Instead, he chose to say "Allah u Akbar" while holding up a prayer symbol, known as the "Finger of Tawheed." The symbol refers to the Islamic belief that "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet." Sports have no place for such blatant religiosity. On July 20, 2021, the Session of the International Olympic Committee approved a change in the Olympic motto that recognises the unifying power of sport and the importance of solidarity. The change adds the word 'together' after an en dash to, "Faster, Higher, Stronger." The new Olympic motto now reads: " Faster, Higher, Stronger- Together." Solidarity fuels our mission to make the world a better place through sport. We can only go faster, we can only aim higher, we can only become stronger by standing together- in solidarity. On such a lofty and exalted platform, giving importance to religion, jingoism and fanaticism must be condemned in no uncertain terms. Why should you emblazon your faith on an international forum? Leave it back home. In 1971-72, when the World Eleven Vs Australia matches were being played in Australia under the stewardship of one and only Sir Garfield Sobers, World Eleven had players like Sunil Gavaskar, Intikhab Alam, Zaheer Abbas, Asif Masood, Farokh Engineer from India and Pakistan. At the same time, war between India and Pakistan also broke out on the Eastern Front of India for the liberation of Bangladesh. Yet, it made absolutely no impact on the bonhomie among the Indian and Pakistani cricketers. They would read the war-related news in the dailies and play together without any rancour. Bedi remained Intikhab's best friend till he breathed his last in 2023. Zaheer and Gavaskar are still great friends. When Zaheer was admitted to a hospital in London a couple of years ago, Gavaskar and a few other Indian cricketers went to see him despite India and Pakistan being at loggerheads with each other since 1947. Sports bring people together. It's the second greatest leveller after death. Alas, religion has sullied everything. In fact, growing religiosity and militant nationalism have worsened things, of late. ------- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/unsportsmanlike-behaviour/d/132830 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism