Kurdish taekwondo athlete Yalda Qadri has won a silver medal at the 2026 World Taekwondo Hanmadang tournament in Seoul, marking a notable achievement for the Kurdistan Region on the international stage.
Qadri, 28, secured second place in the knife-hand power breaking event and described competing at the global championship as a proud and memorable experience.
She was the only female athlete among the nine-member team representing the Kurdistan Region at the tournament.
This year’s competition brought together 4,261 athletes from 61 countries, who competed in 170 events across 15 disciplines. The tournament ran from Aug. 1 to Aug. 5.
Unlike Olympic-style taekwondo competitions, the World Taekwondo Hanmadang focuses on traditional martial arts techniques, demonstrations, forms and breaking events rather than sparring.
Qadri said the team overcame initial challenges to carry the Kurdistan flag during the event, describing the moment of receiving her silver medal while draped in the flag as one of great pride.
She said the achievement was not only a personal milestone but also a source of pride for the people of the Kurdistan Region.
