DELAL REMEZAN

Hasakah- The Taekwondo Tigers School (TTS) was founded in Hasakah in 2009 to teach children and young people taekwondo. The school now has two teams: Roj Women’s Team and Salar Team. At school, dozens of coaches train taekwondo athletes to achieve international success. The Roj Women’s Team has achieved success by participating in many local and international taekwondo competitions.

Delyar Hüseyin, member of the Roj Women’s Team, began training at the school in 2010. She told NuJINHA that she did not give up on her dreams despite all the pressure and criticism. “I have been participating in local tournaments in taekwondo since 2010. In 2011, I won a gold medal. After the revolution in North and East Syria, we began to participate in the international taekwondo competitions. We first participated in an international competition in 2013. At the beginning, I faced many difficulties because I was 15 years old and the only girl at the school. I faced some criticism. I was told that only men could be taekwondo athletes. I ignored all the criticism and kept working.”

She has won many medals

In 2013, her team participated in the taekwondo competitions held in Jordan and Turkey. “I won my first medal in Turkey. I won a bronze medal. Our team won six medals at the competition. Then, we began to participate in training camps to be ready for other international competitions. In 2016, I participated in an international taekwondo championship held in Jordan and won a gold medal. In 2019, before the Covid-19 outbreak, I participated in competitions held in Egypt, Tunisia and Jerusalem. In 2022, we participated in the World Taekwondo President’s Cup (Asia Region) held in Jordan and our team won a silver medal.”

Roj Women’s Team was named after a taekwondo athlete, who was killed by ISIS suicide bomber at a wedding party in North and East Syria. “We use this name for participating in local tournaments but we participate in international tournaments under the name of the Tigers Taekwondo team. Until now, we have won more than 60 medals in the international competitions. 100 athletes of the schools have black belts. Children at the age of six can receive training at the school. More girls want to learn taekwondo. Now, the school has branches in Manbij, Dêrîk, Amûdê and Qamishlo.”

‘Women should follow their dreams’

Delyar Hüseyin is now a taekwondo coach and mother. Speaking about the difficulties faced by her, she said, “Even though I face difficulties, I do my best to overcome them. Taekwondo athletes wear white uniforms and white symbolizes peace. We participate in international competitions and learn about different cultures. I call on all women and girls to follow their dreams even if they face difficulties. They should break all barriers to realize their dreams.”

‘I want to be a taekwondo athlete known all around the world’

24-year-old Alaa Hüseyin is also a member of the Roj Women’s Team. “I dreamed of being a member of the Taekwondo Tigers School. I felt very happy when I became a member of the school. Until 2011, I just participated in local tournaments. In 2013, I participated in an international competition in Turkey and won a gold medal. In 2016, I won a gold medal at the World Taekwondo President’s Cup in Jordan. I won a bronze medal at the taekwondo competition in Beirut. I want to be a taekwondo athlete known all around the world. Women should be determined and struggle to realize their dreams.”