According to the report, Mollaei had consulted with Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga and IJF head Marius Vizer, and has decided to come to Israel to compete next month. The report also stated that Israeli Judo Association president Moshe Ponte will be going to Mongolia this weekend to meet with the three in hopes of making Mollaei's visit official. Mollaei reportedly showed Vizer correspondence with his family in Iran, revealing that many death threats were sent to them.Even before coming to Israel, Mollaei will possibly face Israeli judoka Sagi Muki at the Qingdao Masters in China next week. In case the draw happens to pitch the two against each other, it will be the first time they meet on the judo mat.After competing in Osaka, Muki congratulated Mollaei on Instagram for returning to the judo mat and participating in his first competition since the World Championships in Tokyo. Mollaei, in turn, thanked Muki for his support and added: "Good luck to you all the time, my best friend."In his own Instagram post, Mollaei posted a picture of both of them standing together and claimed that "This is true friendship and a win for sports and judo over politics."Other than Mollaei, two judokas from the United Arab Emirates, Ivan Remarenco and Victor Scvortov, will also be competing at the Tel Aviv Grand Prix. Although the two were born in Moldova, they will be competing under the UAE flag.Israeli athletes competed in the UAE in the past but were not allowed to have the Israeli flag on their Judogi (the judo uniform).Another Iranian judoka, Mohammad Rashnonezhad, who is currently considered a refugee and seeking asylum in the Netherlands will be competing in Tel Aviv as part of the IJF refugee team.
Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei will compete in Israel next month – report
Even before coming to Israel, Mollaei will possibly face Israeli judoka Sagi Muki at the Qingdao Masters in China next week.
