11-year-old Lebanese chess player Sally Hamadeh withdrew from round five of the World Chess Championship for under-12 age groups in Georgia, refusing to normalize after being drawn to an Israeli player.
The head of the Lebanese delegation, Major Jamal Shamiya, commented on Hamada’s withdrawal, saying that “the withdrawal took place against the background of the nationality of the player who should have faced Sally, who is Israeli”, adding: “There is no recognition. of the enemy and no normalization with the occupying aggressor “.
Celebrating the retreat
A number of activists on social media platforms praised the decision to withdraw from international competition, rejecting normalization with the State of Israel.
“This is a generation where we will raise our heads,” Sahar Ghaddar tweeted, describing Sally Hamada as “the queen of the chess table”.
Nisreen also expressed his admiration for Hamada’s step, saying, “This is our Lebanon, which we love, these generations raising their heads.”
Hamada’s retirement comes after the young Lebanese athlete, Charbel Abu Daher, retired from the Mixed Martial Arts World Championship in Abu Dhabi, as did Abdullah Miniato, who retired from the same tournament that took place in Bulgaria, last year.
Player Nadia Fawaz withdrew from the fourth round of the Abu Dhabi International Open for the match after being drawn against an Israeli player.
–
