World Taekwondo and Hadipour awarded FISU’s Best International Sports Federation & Best Male Athlete

TURIN, Italy (15 November, 2019) – World Taekwondo today received the ‘Best International Sports Federation’ award and Iran’s taekwondo star, Armin Hadipour, won the ‘Best Male Athlete’ award on a special night for taekwondo at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Gala Dinner in Turin.

World Taekwondo received the award in recognition of the federation’s significant contribution to the development of the university sports movement. Universiade veteran, Hadipour, was awarded Best Male Athlete following his gold medal at the 2019 Summer Universiade which marked his third gold medal in three consecutive Universiades.

Taekwondo has been a compulsory sport on the programme of the Summer Universiade since 2017, and since then World Taekwondo has worked closely with FISU on the development of sport with a focus on gender equality, innovation and equal opportunities. FISU also noted the work of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF), which is leading the way to improve the lives of refugees and displaced people through teaching the values of Olympism through sport.

mouThe two organisations formalized their cooperation ahead of the Gala dinner during the FISU General Assembly as they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on promoting world peace. World Taekwondo and FISU have committed to creating ‘Sport Peace Corps’ which through various sporting activities and training and education programmes will cultivate future leaders and provide hope for deserving and underprivledged people.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue, who attended the Gala and accepted the award on World Taekwondo’s behalf, said:

“It is a great honour to receive this prestigious award. I would like to acknowledge the excellent work that FISU has done over the years, especially on our shared goals of gender equality, innovation, and equal opportunities for all. We are truly grateful to have FISU as our reliable partner in making the world a better place through sport. This award is a fantastic achievement for World Taekwondo, but it is only the beginning. Through our MOU, which we signed earlier today, we look forward to closer and more meaningful collaboration with FISU on future projects.

“I would also like to congratulate Hadipour on receiving the Best Male Athlete award in recognition of his outstanding achievements in three consecutive Universiades”

The FISU Gala is held every two years on the occasion of the FISU General Assembly. During the Gala, ten awards were presented, including Best Athletes and Best University awards.