India Says ‘No’ to Table Tennis With Israelis
Political differences with Israel resurfaced today at the World Table Tennis Championships as India refused to play the Israeli team.
Schlomo Kedar, president of the Israeli Table Tennis Assn., submitted a formal protest to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and demanded that India be disqualified from the championships.
Israel was given a 5-0 victory, because of India’s decision, and advanced to the semifinals. Later today the Organizing Committee said that the results of India’s previous matches were canceled and it would be placed 32nd.
Last Friday Pakistan did not play Israel in the second round of the team event. Pakistani officials claimed a misreading of the schedule. Following a protest by Israel, the Pakistani team was placed last in its group although allowed to play in the next round.
India refused to play Israel in a Davis Cup lawn tennis meet last year in a suburb of Tel Aviv. Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said at the time he decided to boycott Israel for what he called “repression and atrocities” in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
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