Following his gold medal performance in his weight class in the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) Judo Grand Slam, Israeli Judoka Tal Flicker sang Hatikva on his own, while the hosts, who refused to allow the Israeli team any identifying symbols, played the IJF’s anthem.

Two Israelis won medals, including Flicker’s gold, at the Judo Grand Slam tournament, but organizers from host Abu Dhabi refused to play the Israeli national anthem, Hatikva, during the medal presentation, The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

Flicker defeated Azerbaijan’s Nijat Shikhalizada with an Ippon, the judo version of a knockout, to take the gold medal in the men’s under-66 kg (145 pounds) class, but did so under the IJF flag because organizers of the tournament claimed that it would be dangerous for Israelis to compete under their own flag. Israeli competitors were also barred from having the letter ISR on their uniforms.

Israel competed under similar constraints in Abu Dhabi in 2015 and has already done better this than it did two years ago. In 2015, Yarden Gerbi and Sagi Muki, both won bronze medals. This year, in addition to Flicker, Gili Cohen won the bronze medal for the women’s under-52 kg (115 pounds) competition

Later Flicker, who was ranked number 2 in the world before the Grand Slam, explained that he defied his UAE hosts because he is proud of his country.

[Photo: Judo / YouTube]