NOC wants action to be taken for Haya dismissal

Doha: The National Olympic Committee (NOC) wants the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to take action against those who deprived UAE's karateka Haya Samir Juma from competing at the Asian Games.

Haya, 13, was disqualified as she was deemed to be underage according to International Karate Federation, which states a competitor must be 16 years of age.

"To dismiss a player because of her age is not the responsibility of the referees' committee, the OCA have to decide that and not the referees," said Ebrahim Abdul Malek, Secretary General of the NOC.

"It was a negative decision and the referees' committee exeeded its limits. I spoke to Wi Zhang,the member of OCA executive committee and Joze Achiam, general secretary of the Asian Karate Federation, and both of them agreed that the referees' committee had made a big mistake."

He said that the OCA and the Asian Games Organising committee had agreed to the participation of Haya Samir in the individual katas.

"The technical committee issued her the official card which allowed her to participate in the Games," said Abdul Malek.

"In addition, no one protested in the technical committee meeting before the start of the matches and they accepted Haya's participation- which means that the position of our player is 100% correct. "There was no reason for the referees committee to dismiss her."

Haya had reached the semifinals after beating a Sri Lankan player. She was disqualified in the next match.

Abdul Malek said that the referees' committee chairman had said that it was not possible to replay the match.

The NOC Secretary General praised Haya's performance. "She did her best and performed excellently. If she continued in the same spirit, without the unfair decision of the referees' committee, I am sure that Haya could have won a medal for the UAE."