Schweizer Seiten 4/2025

Rashed Noori Officially Part of the Coubertin meets Dunant Foundation’s Refugee Programme

Since February, Rashed Noori has been an official participant in the Refugee Programme of the Coubertin meets Dunant Foundation (https://www.coubertin-meets-dunant.ch/en/our-programmes/refugee-programme). For over two years, he has been training at the Taekwondo school Crescendo Oberwil in Basel under the guidance of Lukas Allemann. In an interview with us, he shared insights into the significance of this opportunity for his athletic and personal development.

Rashed, you joined the Coubertin meets Dunant Foundation’s Refugee Programme earlier this year. What was your first thought?

When I found out that I had been accepted into the programme, I was incredibly happy. I saw it as a great opportunity to continue developing and achieving my goals. This support reassures me that my hard work is being recognized and that I am not alone on this journey.

You’ve been training in Switzerland for 2.5 years, having previously trained in Afghanistan. What are the biggest differences in Taekwondo training between the two countries? And is there something Switzerland could learn from Afghanistan?

There are many differences. In Switzerland, training conditions, equipment, and technical analysis are much more advanced. The focus is more on modern techniques and strategy. In Afghanistan, however, training was physically tougher and more intense, with a strong emphasis on strength and endurance. I believe Switzerland could learn a lot from Afghanistan in terms of fighting spirit and mental toughness.

You train hard and often – what is your biggest training challenge?

One of the biggest challenges for me is finding the right balance between intense training and proper recovery. Training a lot is important, but if the body is too tired or injured, progress slows down. That’s why I make sure to recover well and maintain a healthy diet. Additionally, being far from my family and home country is not always easy, but I try to stay focused on my goals and keep myself motivated.

What do you look forward to most in training?

I love learning new techniques and improving my skills. Every little progress gives me fresh motivation and brings me one step closer to my goal. I also really enjoy competing against other athletes and challenging myself to keep improving.

Your goal is to compete in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. How does the Refugee Programme support you in this journey?

The programme helps me with administrative matters, such as visa applications. Since I have an F-permit in Switzerland, I am not eligible for a Swiss Olympic Card. However, being recognized in this programme gives me a status as an elite athlete, which makes it easier to find sponsors. Without financial support, I wouldn’t be able to participate in major competitions. At the same time, the programme provides me with mental support and motivation because I know I am not alone and that there are people who believe in me. Additionally, I have access to a network of experienced athletes and coaches, from whom I can learn a lot. All of this makes my path to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles a little easier.

Thank you, Rashed, for the interview. We wish you much success on your journey to the Olympic Games.

Dutch Open – Swiss National Team

On March 8–9, the Dutch Open Taekwondo Championships took place in Eindhoven, where the Swiss national team impressed with exciting matches and secured three well-deserved medals.

Kadhem Hafaz (Cadets / Boys -53kg) dominated his category, fighting his way through three rounds to claim gold. Hosseyn Hafaz (Cadets / Boys -33kg) reached the final after four intense fights but was defeated by a strong opponent from Azerbaijan, earning silver. Sofija Zivkovic (Juniors / Women +68kg) also delivered an outstanding performance and secured bronze.

The rest of the national team also demonstrated solid performances. Peer Steinkellner, the Swiss national Kyorugi coach, can be proud of his team.

Successful Performances for Hafaz and Bourhalla – Team Krasniqi Shines Internationally

The past months have been highly successful for young athletes Kadhem Hafaz and Nour Bourhalla, who showcased their talent in international Taekwondo competitions.

Kadhem Hafaz (-53kg, Cadets) demonstrated exceptional consistency, securing four medals in four tournaments:
🥉 Austria Open Youth E2 in Vienna (February)
🥉 Grand Prix Qualifier E3 in Tirana (February)
🥇 Dutch Open in Eindhoven (March)
🥉 Bucharest Open in Bucharest (March)

His strong performances have earned him qualification for the Grand Prix in Estonia and he has also met the criteria for selection to the World Cadet Championship.

Nour Bourhalla (-63kg, Junior) also delivered solid results, competing in high-level tournaments:  9th place Grand Prix Qualifier E3 in Tirana (2 fights) and 5th place at the Dutch Open in Eindhoven (3 fights). He also placed 5th at the Dutch Open with 3 fights, 5th at the Bucharest Open (2 fights) and 9th at the European Youth E3 with 3 fights.

Under the guidance of Coach Bashkim Krasniqi, the team also excelled at the International Kinderturnier, securing 2nd place in the Team Trophy.

🥇 Gold: Esra Krasniqi, Bion Krasniqi, Malak Bourhalla, Luca Gomes, Ajan Krasniqi
🥈 Silver: Ilias Ajdini, Alioune Sene, Dorian Gulik, Idriss Iadevito

A fantastic achievement for the entire team—congratulations to all the athletes and their coach!

Strong Performance by the Swiss Poomsae Team at Bulgaria Open

On March 3, the Bulgaria Open took place in Sofia, with the Swiss Poomsae Team delivering outstanding results. Competing at the well-attended G1 tournament, the Swiss athletes secured three podium finishes! Daniel Morath earned a bronze medal with a 3rd place finish in the senior category, Luis Sanchez (U50) claimed silver, and in the senior pairs event, Mathieu and Kaja impressed with their performance, also taking home silver.

Other strong performances came from Masha Chavanne (5th place), Kaja Blattert (9th place), Nayeli Höhner (9th place), and the pairs team of Daniel and Kyra, who finished 5th in their category.

The Bulgaria Open was the final qualifying tournament for the Poomsae European Championships, set to take place on April 16-17 in Estonia. Congratulations to the team on this fantastic achievement!

AI-Driven Storytelling and Its Impact on Discipline and Engagement in TaekFunDo

Hamed Konarivand, director of Koryo Club, has recently published a peer-reviewed article on the impact of discipline and respect in children’s training by telling them bed time stories based on Taekwondo values. The article titled “AI-Driven Storytelling and Its Impact on Discipline and Engagement in TaekFunDo” is published in the Journal of Information Systems Engineering and Management (JISEM)—a Scopus-indexed publication recognized for its international standards.

In this paper, Konarivand explores how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to create child-friendly narrative experiences, thereby reinforcing Taekwondo values such as respect and discipline. His TaekFunDo methodology introduces playful storytelling and reward-based systems that help children (especially ages 4–7) stay engaged and motivated. The article details both the technical framework behind these AI-generated narratives and the practical outcomes observed in Taekwondo classes at Koryo Club.

If you’re interested in innovative teaching methods, the potential of AI in martial arts, or simply want to learn more about TaekFunDo, take a look the publication: https://www.jisem-journal.com/index.php/journal/article/view/2744