TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (April 13, 2026) – World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue met with four athletes representing the World Taekwondo Refugee Team at the Tashkent 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships, offering words of encouragement and support for their journey in the sport.
World Taekwondo Council Member and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Operations Director Maher Magableh and World Taekwondo Secretary General Jeongkang Seo also greeted the athletes.
Essa Mousa Alkhalaf (M -55kg), Mahmoud Qasim Abukhshet (M -51kg), Kafa Al Mubarak (W -55kg) and Aya Morad Alahmad (W -68kg) met with President Choue, together with their coach Ahmad Faisal Okaidat.
The athletes and their coach represent refugee camps in Jordan, including Azraq and Zaatari, and are part of the growing refugee Taekwondo community supported by the THF’s initiatives.
During the meeting, President Choue praised the athletes for their dedication and resilience, emphasising the power of sport to transform lives and create opportunities.
“To become a champion, you must continue to train hard and stay committed,” President Choue said.
“If you keep working with determination, you can achieve your dreams – just like Yahya Al Ghotany, who carried the Refugee Team flag at the Paris Olympic Games. With effort and perseverance, participating at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and LA28 Olympic Games is within your reach.”
Al Ghotani, a refugee athlete from the Azraq camp, has become a symbol of hope and inspiration through his participation on the Olympic stage, demonstrating what is possible through dedication and support.
The presence of the World Taekwondo Refugee Team at the Tashkent 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships highlights World Taekwondo’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, peace and the empowerment of displaced communities through sport.
__
