DUBAI: Turkish Kung Fu champion Necmettin Erbakan Akyuz, who raised the Palestinian flag during a European championship contest in solidarity with Gaza, has said he stands by his decision.

Responding to the European Kung Fu Federation’s threat to strip him of his title, the 22-year-old reportedly said on Wednesday: “If I had raised the Israeli flag there instead of the Palestinian flag, the (federation) would not have imposed this penalty on me.”

Akyuz won his division in the European Kung Fu Championships held on Dec. 17, 2023, in Istanbul.

Ben Necmettin Erbakan Akyüz

Madalyaların en güzelini aldım

Mazlumların sesi olmak adına yaptığım hareketten dolayı Avrupa Federasyonu soruşturma açtı

Yaptıklarımdan dolayı pişman değilim, verilecek kararlarım nezdimde hiçbir kıymeti yoktur.

NEHİRDEN DENİZE ÖZGÜR FİLİSTİN . pic.twitter.com/Jpo8yjEnP1

— Necmettin Erbakan Akyüz (@neakyuz) April 29, 2024

As he stood on the podium, he raised the Palestinian flag and performed the Dabke, a traditional Palestinian dance.

“Opening an investigation, withdrawing the championship title, issuing sanctions and withdrawing all the world and European championships that I own … if you think that you can scare me with these things and make me back down, then you are truly fools,” he said.

Akyuz added that he did not break any rules and said the federation has “no values, no humanity, no conscience, no manhood, no honor, no dignity.”

LOS ANGELES: Tyrese Maxey produced a 46-point gem as the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the New York Knicks 112-106 in overtime to keep their NBA Eastern Conference playoff hopes alive on Tuesday.

Maxey led the Sixers back from the brink of defeat in the fourth quarter with a late burst of scoring before dominating in overtime to ensure a Game 6 back in Philadelphia.

The Knicks, leading the best-of-seven series 3-1 heading into Tuesday’s game, had looked poised to clinch after Jalen Brunson helped the second seeds take a six-point lead with 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

But Maxey drained a three-pointer from 24 feet and then hit a stunning 34-footer from the logo with nine seconds left to send a pulsating duel into overtime.

It looked as if the Knicks had reclaimed the initiative after Brunson scored five points to give New York a five-point lead before a raucous Madison Square Garden.

Yet Maxey and NBA MVP Joel Embiid had other ideas, launching a 9-0 run to give the Sixers a 106-102 advantage. New York pegged it back to 106-106 but the Sixers regrouped and pulled clear again to seal victory.

“Season on the line, we fought for 53 minutes and never gave up,” Maxey said.

“Even when we were down late guys still went out there and made plays — that was big time.”

A pumped-up Maxey could be seen roaring in defiance after helping the Sixers take the game to overtime in the fourth quarter.

“I was saying some things that my grandma probably wouldn’t like,” he said. “I’m a happy guy but I absolutely hate losing.”

Maxey’s 46-point haul included seven three-pointers while Embiid posted a triple-double of 19 points, 16 rebounds and 10 rebounds.

Tobias Harris added 19 points for the Sixers while Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 14.

Brunson led New York’s scoring with 40 points while Josh Hart had 18 and O.G. Anunoby 17.

Game 6 is in Philadelphia on Thursday.

In other games, the injury-hit Milwaukee Bucks stayed afloat by beating the Indiana Pacers, winning 115-92 to extend their series to Game 6.

Milwaukee, trailing 3-1 and missing injured stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, looked to be heading for an early postseason exit after Indiana raced into a 31-23 first-quarter lead.

But the Bucks cut loose though in the second and third, outscoring Indiana 64-36 to take control.

Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis led Milwaukee with 29 points apiece while Malike Beasley added 18.

Tyrese Haliburton top scored for Indiana with 16 points but endured a frustrating night against a sterling Milwaukee defensive effort.

Game 6 takes place in Indiana on Thursday.

In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell rattled in 28 points — including 14 in the fourth quarter — as the Cavaliers ground out a 104-103 win over the Orlando Magic to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference first round series.

Orlando had fought back from 2-0 down to level after recording emphatic wins in Games 3 and 4 in Florida.

But Cleveland dug deep to ensure they will head back to Orlando for game six on Friday with a chance of clinching the series.

“It’s not gonna be pretty but it’s the playoffs,” Mitchell said after Cleveland’s win.

“The fourth quarter — that’s what I do. But I’ve got to play better for my group.

“We’ve played well at home as a group. Now we’ve got to go down there in a hostile environment and handle our business.”

Paolo Banchero led Orlando’s scorers with 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists.