When Ali learned that her next opponent was an Israeli she withdrew from the competition.
Fenster won a bronze medal as a result.
Altogether the Israeli team won four bronze medals at Zagreb.
Usually one only sees Iranians refuse to compete with Israelis. The idea that a country ostensibly at peace with Israel would allow such behavior tells you more about Egyptian-Israeli relations than any political analysis can.
An Iranian champion did refuse to attend a medal ceremony where Israeli Liran Malachi received his bronze so as not to stand next to him on the podium.
