Nagoya, Japan, September 18, 2026: The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games held a team welcome ceremony for the OCA Refugee Team/Asian Refugee Team (ART) at the Garden Pier on Friday, September 18.
The refugee team – comprising two taekwondo athletes – are making history for the OCA and Asian Games.
The two athletes are Mahmoud Al Jasem Al Mohammad Al Hussein, 24, who will compete in the men’s 80kg Kyorugi (combat), and Talah Al Hassan Al Hinide, 18, in the women’s -49kg Kyorugi. Both athletes are from the Syrian Arab Republic and stay in the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan.
Talah Al Hassan Al Hinide - My Taekwondo Journey
My name is Talah. I am 18 years old and a refugee living in Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan.
When I arrived at the camp, I carried only painful memories and dreams that felt out of reach. Like many girls whose lives were changed by war, I faced an uncertain future and struggled to see what lay ahead.
I was a very quiet girl, hiding my emotions behind silence and trying to adapt to the challenges of life as a refugee. Fear had become a part of me, and with each passing day, my self-confidence faded.
One day, I heard about Taekwondo training sessions in the camp.
I walked into the training hall with hesitation and very little confidence. I believed everyone was stronger than I was and doubted that I could continue. Whenever I became tired or made a mistake, I would tell myself, "Maybe this isn't the right place for me."
But I refused to give up.
Day after day, training after training, I began to discover a version of myself I had never known before.
I became stronger—not only physically, but emotionally as well. Fear slowly disappeared and was replaced by determination.
Taekwondo became much more than a sport. It became my window to hope in a place filled with challenges. In the refugee camp, where dreams often seem small, Taekwondo gave me the opportunity to dream again and to believe that being a refugee does not define or limit my future.
Every kick I performed reminded me that I was capable.
Every training session taught me that challenges are not the end of the road—they can be the beginning of something new.
Through Taekwondo, I learned patience, discipline, and self-confidence. I found my voice, stood with confidence, and realized that my story would not be defined by displacement, but by my determination and resilience.
As time passed, my goal became greater than simply training. I wanted to improve, represent others who have experienced similar hardships, and prove that a girl from a refugee camp can achieve success and inspire hope in others.
Today, I am stronger, more confident, and more aware of my potential.
Taekwondo has not only taught me how to compete on the mat—it has taught me how to overcome fear, transform hardship into strength, and believe that hope can flourish even in the heart of a refugee camp.
Mahmoud Al Jasem Al Mohammad Al Hussein – My Taekwondo Journey
"They say that some dreams are born in the most unexpected places."
In 2016, I was not just a child moving from one country to another—I was a Syrian refugee who arrived in Jordan carrying difficult childhood memories and facing an uncertain future. Life in Azraq Refugee Camp was challenging, and opportunities were limited, but deep inside, I held on to a small hope that something could change my life.
Then one day, everything began to change.
I heard about a new Taekwondo program launched in the camp by THF in partnership with CERE. I knew very little about the sport, but I felt it might be the opportunity I had been waiting for.
I was among the first children to join the team.
At first, I was simply learning the basics of Taekwondo. But as time passed, it became much more than a sport. It became a place where I learned discipline, patience, and self-confidence. For the first time, I felt that I could achieve something and that my future could be brighter than I had imagined.
Little by little, my life began to change. I woke up every morning with a purpose, and each training session gave me greater strength and determination. Whenever circumstances prevented me from attending training, I felt deeply disappointed because Taekwondo had become a part of who I am.
Over the years, my skills continued to improve, and I became one of the athletes on the first team. Every day strengthened my belief that choosing Taekwondo was the turning point in my life.
Today, I continue to train and work hard to improve myself, taking one step at a time toward my goals. I believe that success does not happen overnight—it is built through dedication, perseverance, and the determination to never give up.
This is more than the story of a sport.
It is the story of a refugee child who found a new path through Taekwondo—a path that gave me confidence, purpose, and the belief that no matter how difficult life may be, determination and hard work can create a brighter future.
