‘My lifetime was in danger’ – Flagbearer and taekwondo athlete Farzad Mansouri facts why he had to flee Afghanistan

Farzad Mansouri was the flagbearer for Afghanistan at the Tokyo Olympics but weeks afterwards he would have to flee the nation in worry of his life just after the Taliban re-took control of the place.

The 20-year-outdated explained to The Energy of Activity that the Taliban’s return to electricity put his taekwondo job on keep, and, given his Tajik ethnicity and his father’s get the job done for the govt, he decided to leave the place.

“To be equipped to go to the Olympics and to be my country’s flagbearer was an remarkable sensation. I was representing 30 million folks at the Olympic Games,” mentioned Mansouri in the latest episode of The Electric power of Sport.

“After the Olympics we returned to Afghanistan, but the instances overtook us – the Taliban took control of the place just two weeks later, and the protection situation deteriorated.

“It was hazardous for my family since we were being effectively regarded persons in Afghanistan. My lifestyle was in danger and exactly where we lived, a handful of individuals were being killed. It was resolved that we experienced to flee the region.”

He expended eight months in a refugee camp in the United Arab Emirates, before transferring to Manchester, where he has resumed his taekwondo schooling.

“We went to Abu Dhabi and even though there I was invited by a number of nations like Germany, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom to appear and train with them,” he said. “I accepted the UK’s invitation as I realized the British group was a single of the most effective in the environment.”

Some of Mansouri’s spouse and children are in Abu Dhabi when others continue to be in Afghanistan, and concerns persist above their security.

“I am concerned about my family, some of my brothers and sisters are nevertheless in Afghanistan and all the relaxation are in Abu Dhabi. It is just me and one of my brothers right here in the British isles,” he extra.

The 20-yr-old adds that – in spite of the upheaval of the past number of months – taekwondo has provided some respite and he maintains hopes of competing at entire world and Olympic level once more.

“I think about it when I try to eat, when I sleep, when I rest and even when I converse to my spouse and children,” he added. “When I am practising it aids me fail to remember about all of my problems, it tends to make me incredibly content.

“The schooling amenities below are better than in my possess place, they make it possible for you to concentrate on different factors of training, there isn’t a facility comparable to this in Afghanistan. My intention is to earn medals at both of those the Environment Championships and the Olympics.”

Mansouri also has strategies outside of his taekwondo vocation and desires to move on his wisdom to the next generation once he retires.

“I want to have a very good, calm life with my spouse and children. At the time I retire from competing, I want to turn out to be a coach and educate the next era. I want to have a typical lifetime without having all this drama exactly where we can all stay in the very same location altogether.”

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