SAMARKAND — Pakistan declined to play its scheduled match against Israel at the ongoing Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, citing long-standing government policy and expressing solidarity with Palestine, the national federation confirmed.
The fixture between the two teams had been set for today, but Pakistan’s delegation withdrew from the encounter rather than face the Israeli side.
Federation Cites Government Policy
Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, President of the Chess Federation of Pakistan, said the country maintains a clear and unambiguous position regarding Israel and could not compete against the Israeli team in violation of that stance.
Naqvi said the decision to skip the match was taken deliberately to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
A Field of 203 Nations
The international chess event, hosted in the historic Uzbek city of Samarkand, has drawn teams from 203 countries, making it one of the largest editions of the tournament in recent years.
Pakistan’s withdrawal from the single fixture marks the latest instance of the country’s athletes and sporting bodies refusing competition against Israel on political grounds, a pattern consistent with Islamabad’s foreign policy posture.
- Pakistan was scheduled to face Israel in a round of the Samarkand Olympiad.
- The federation said the forfeit was made in line with government policy.
- Officials framed the move as a gesture of solidarity with Palestine.
- The tournament features teams from 203 nations.
Under standard chess competition rules, a team that fails to appear for a scheduled match forfeits the fixture, with the opposing side typically awarded the win.
