Ibrohim wins international taekwondo gold

Year 9 pupil Ibrohim Saidahror has topped the podium at the Sixth Wales Taekwondo International Championships, winning a gold medal on his category debut.

Ibrohim took the top prize in the  -37kg Class A Cadet category in an event which attracted more than 500 athletes.

Having seen off fellow competitor Pius Junior Appiah in the semi-final, he achieved a 2–0 victory against Ethan Holmes from the Core Taekwondo Academy based in Kendal, Cumbria, in the final.

In what was a memorable day, he also completed his first refereeing assignment at the event, which was held at the Sport Wales National Centre in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Director of Sport Jonathan Hart said: “My congratulations go to Ibrohim on an impressive achievement – one which is the fruit of a great deal of hard work, discipline and dedication to the sport.”

Ibrohim took up taekwondo seven years ago and trains at the Superior Taekwondo Academy in Greenford.

His previous achievements include winning a silver medal last autumn in the -37kg novice category at the British Taekwondo National Kyorugi Championships in Sheffield and, before that, taking gold in a sparring competition, also at Sophia Gardens.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art renowned for its dynamic high, spinning and aerial kicks. In competition, athletes score points by delivering powerful strikes to legal target areas on the torso and head.

Reflecting afterwards on his victory, Ibrohim said: “It’s the first time I have won gold in a long while, so it meant a lot. However, it is the first time I competed in this category, so winning gold means even more. I am glad I managed to adapt successfully.”