Thaindian News

Melbourne, Oct 6 (IANS) Australian wrestler Hassene Fkiri, who was disqualified for obscene gestures and unsporting behaviour during his gold-medal bout against India’s Anil Kumar in the Commonwealth Games, will apologise to match officials, a media report said Wednesday.

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association held crisis meetings after Fkiri’s unsporting behaviour during the gold medal bout of the Greco-Roman 96 kg event, AAP reported.

Fkiri refused to shake hands with Anil after the bout and showed middle finger to officials after the rough bout.

During the bout, the Australian was cautioned twice, once for headbutting and then for slapping the Indian. Fkiri was booed by the crowd and later disqualified by the referee for indiscipline.

The Australian wrestler was denied the silver medal, which he would have picked up after losing to Anil Kumar.

Australia’s chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said that Fkiri had let down the Australian Games team and everyone who supported him.

“I would describe his actions as unacceptable for an Australian sportsperson representing their country in international competition,” Moneghetti was quoted as saying.

“Publicly, it didn’t look good.”

“It’s very embarrassing because he’s disappointed himself, his family, wrestling, but overall, he’s disappointed the Australian Commonwealth Games team.”

The media report said that Fikri was required to apologise to the match referee and competition manager in person Thursday.

The wrestler has also been confined to the athletes’ village until the end of the Games and he has been ordered to help his teammates with their competition preparations.

After his return home, Fikri will conduct a weekly one-hour training session for 12 months with the juniors of the Sydney wrestling club, of which he is a member.