FUJAIRAH, UAE (May 11, 2025) - World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue today met with six members of the Refugee Team competing at the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships in Fujairah.
The Refugee Team enables athletes to compete in international competitions, and reflects World Taekwondo’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all to participate in the sport.
At the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, the Refugee Team includes:
- Majd Alallw (M -37kg)
- Reda Alayoub (M -49kg)
- Raneem Alomar (W -47kg)
- Gazal Mhd Othman (W -41kg)
- Melika Barbari (W -37kg)
- Reem Alali (W -37kg)
President Choue, who is Chairman of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF), commented: “It was emotional to meet with these young Refugee Team athletes today at the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships. In the face of unimaginable adversity, their stories are truly inspiring and I wish them all the best of luck for this year’s World Taekwondo Cadet Championships.
“We believe Taekwondo has the power to serve as a symbol for peace and hope, and as the THF approaches its 10th anniversary we are determined to redouble our efforts to support refugee athletes from around the world.”
Since it was founded in 2016, the THF has pioneered a series of impactful projects which empower refugees and displaced people, and it has been recognised within the Olympic Movement for its work as it received the IOC’s prestigious Olympic Cup in 2023.
Five Taekwondo athletes featured on the IOC Refugee Team at Paris 2024, making it the third most represented sport.
The THF also recently held the largest-ever Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Jordan, enabling refugee athletes to showcase their talents across a variety of sports.
