An Israeli teenager has won bronze at the Thai boxing world championships after a Palestinian opponent refused to fight him.

Amit Mdah, 16, was declared the bronze medallist at the Muay Thai event in Thailand yesterday.

The Palestinian competitor may now face a penalty for refusing to take part in the quarter-finals.

The Israeli youngster hails from Sumei, an Arab town in the Galilee, though it is unclear which community he is from.

More than 2,000 participants from around the world competed in the event. The Israeli teenager defeated a rival from Madagascar to reach the cancelled bronze medal fight.

This is not the first time that Middle Eastern politics have spilled over into sporting events. At last year’s Rio Olympics, an Egyptian judoka was sent home after refusing to shake the hand of his Israeli rival.

Meanwhile, the Israeli delegation was prevented from boarding a bus to the opening ceremony by their Lebanese counterparts.

In some countries, athletes face pressure not to engage with Israeli sportsmen and women. Just last week, two Iranian footballers who play for a Greek team were condemned by the Iranian football federation for participating in a match against an Israeli team. The pair could now be banned from playing for the national side.