InterviewRefugee-turned-world taekwondo executive spreads 'Taekwondo for all' spirit globally

World Taekwondo's (WT) Para Taekwondo Committee Chairman Usman Dildar, left, receives a plaque from WT President Choue Chung-won in a special recognition award during the third Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Amman, Jordan, May 2. Courtesy of WT

The life of Usman Dildar illustrates the spirit of taekwondo that goes beyond being a combat sport and teaches a sense of caring for others, as he has grown from an Afghan refugee to the chairman of World Taekwondo's (WT) Para Taekwondo Committee.

This spirit is captured through WT’s slogan — “Taekwondo for all.”

Dildar, 52, has faithfully put into practice the values learned from the sport. He started with young Afghans at home and in Great Britain, where he later became a citizen, before reaching out further to Syrian refugees in Jordan and athletes with disabilities worldwide.

“I was immediately drawn to taekwondo. It taught us discipline and fitness, but most importantly, it taught us respect toward our seniors, teachers and fellow human beings,” he said during a recent e-mail interview with The Korea Times.

His remarks were in reference to his childhood in an Afghan refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan, where thousands of Afghans fled during the 1979-89 Soviet invasion.

“Taekwondo helped all of us, both young and old, who didn’t have schools or jobs to go to. We started training barefoot in the mountains and under tents at the camps. It gave us motivation and pride, and the belief that one day we would return to our free country from the invaders,” he added.

After he returned home following the war, Dildar played a central role in establishing Afghanistan National Taekwondo Federation. He reached out to WT using the English he learned in the refugee camp to ask for official recognition from the governing body.

He moved to London in 1993 to pursue his academic career. Two months after his arrival, he opened a taekwondo club for young Afghan refugees there.

“This club helped many young Afghan people to integrate into communities and stay away from troubles,” Dildar said, underlining that such success propelled him to open other branches across Britain and “help thousands learn taekwondo.”

World Taekwondo's (WT) Para Taekwondo Committee Chairman Usman Dildar, fourth from right in the back row, poses with WT President Choue Chung-won, sixth from left in the front row, and other distinguished guests during the third Hope and Dreams Sports Festival in Amman, Jordan, May 2. Courtesy of WT

Over the years, he built a strong presence within the global taekwondo community. He served as the leader of International Federation Service Group of the Local Organizing Committee at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, an advisor to European Taekwondo Union (ETU) president and now holds positions as British Taekwondo vice president, ETU technical director and the chairman of WT’s Para Taekwondo Committee.

His commitment to refugees remains unchanged and brought him to participate in the third Hope and Dreams Sports Festival from April 30 to May 3.

Co-organized by WT and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, the festival is a humanitarian initiative for young Syrians in refugee camps in Jordan.

Dildar explained that WT had already taken meaningful steps to support para-athletes, including organizing the first-ever World Para Taekwondo Championships in Azerbaijan in 2009.

In 2015, taekwondo was officially added to the Paralympic Games, paving the way for its historic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics.

“I was truly inspired by what WT was doing to provide taekwondo training to people with impairments,” Dildar said.

This experience opened Dildar’s eyes to the transformative power of inclusive sport. Recognizing his dedication, WT President Choue Chung-won appointed him as the inaugural chairman of the Para Taekwondo Committee in 2017.

“All credit goes to WT for making these opportunities available for these athletes, as there are many other international federations in the world but what WT is doing is beyond imagination to help both para-athletes and refugees,” he added.