Herat taekwondo athlete burns uniforms in protest over sport's decline

A taekwondo coach and athlete from Herat province set fire to taekwondo uniforms from his sports shop to protest the poor state of the sport and draw officials' attention to its challenges.

According to local sources and fellow taekwondo athletes, taekwondo in Herat has encountered serious issues in recent years, including a lack of facilities, absence of an electronic system for competitions, irregular planning and failure to hold league matches. These factors have led to significant stagnation in the discipline.

Syed Bahar Mobarez, a taekwondo athlete and coach in the province, carried out the protest in recent days. He stated that the action aimed to highlight the dire situation of taekwondo in Herat.

Sports sources report that nearly 60 official taekwondo club licenses had previously been issued in Herat, with most clubs active at the time. Taekwondo was then one of the province's most popular and active sports. Currently, only eight clubs remain active, while many have closed due to ongoing problems.

Even the remaining clubs lack substantial support and a clear program from the Herat Taekwondo Federation, resulting in limited effective activities, according to protesters. They claim the federation shows little activity and provides insufficient support to athletes.

Protesters note that taekwondo, once a source of pride for Afghan sports with medals won in Asian, world and even Olympic competitions, now faces serious decline.

Syed Bahar Mobarez, who has won medals for Afghanistan in international competitions, said he had invested in taekwondo equipment, facilities and uniforms. However, club closures and reduced sports activities in Herat have caused him significant financial losses.

He emphasized that the protest seeks to attract officials' attention to the state of taekwondo and push for its revival in Herat through proper planning, support and management.