Iranian judoka admits the Islamic regime forced him to lose a match to avoid facing the Israeli competitor. But more than anything, he wants to win the championship.
“I am an athlete, not a politician, and I have never been involved in politics,” laments Iran’s Saeid Mollaei, who was scheduled to compete with Israeli judo champion Sagi Muki at the World Judo Championships in Tokyo.
Mollaei explains the pressure that forced him to lose a match in order not to face Muki and how he feared for his family and his life.
He has fled to Germany and continues to dream about winning the world championship.