A regional conflict held sports in a headlock last week when the Israeli and Iranian pankration teams did not compete in the sport’s world cup because of government regulations.
Though both teams placed very well, they were deprived of facing each other in the international competition, which took place in Denmark.
“Although the Iranian martial arts players missed the chances for snatching some gold medals due to their refusal to meet the Israelis, they did steal the show with three golds and five silvers,” IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, reported on Tuesday.
Guy Mor, president of the Israeli Pankration Federation, and Moosa Bakhshaei, his Iranian counterpart, both told The Media Line (TML) that despite both teams’ athletic proficiency, they have never competed against each other.
The Iranian government prohibits all national sports teams from competing with Israel, said Bakhshaei, speaking from Iran.
“It’s really a shame that because of political issues, we cannot play with them,” he added.
However, all tournament participants contributed to an amicable atmosphere, according to reports from Denmark.
Pankration incorporates elements from several fighting styles, including boxing and wrestling.
All three Israeli participants won gold medals, according to Mor. Bakhshaei said that Iran’s four team members took second place collectively.
Pankration, which was founded in 648 B.C. in ancient Greece, enjoys considerable popularity in Israel and Iran, according to Mor and Bakhshaei. They are the only Middle Eastern member nations out of 40 in the International Pankration Federation.