Afghan Taekwondo Enthusiast Uses his Free Time to Train Young Indonesians

IOM - UN Migration
Aug 9, 2017 · 2 min read
Photo: Muse Mohammed / UN Migration Agency (IOM) 2016

Zabi* began training in Taekwondo as a child in Afghanistan. At a young age, he was inspired by two-time Olympic bronze medalist Rohullah Nikpai, who is an ethnic Hazara like himself.

“It is not easy being a Hazara in Afghanistan; we are often discriminated against by other ethnic groups and the Taliban who do not see us as ‘real’ Afghans,” he says. “When I saw Rohullah at the Olympics I felt that anything was possible if I tried hard enough.”

Photo: Muse Mohammed / UN Migration Agency (IOM) 2016

Over the years he graduated his way up to black belt and won a local competition. Later the Taliban discovered Zabi’s identity and threatened to kill him, forcing him to flee to Indonesia.

Today he is a refugee, who has been awaiting resettlement for many years. He uses his time in South Sulawesi to train the local community in the sport he loves.

*Names have been changed


Paul Dillon is the UN Migration Agency’s Communication Media Officer in Indonesia. You can reach him at pdillon@iom.int.

IOM - UN Migration

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Official account of IOM, the United Nations Migration Agency.

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