A West Potomac High School senior is representing Sudan at the inaugural World Taekwondo Under-21 Championships this month in Nairobi, Kenya.
Yousif Abdelrahman is a team captain at Yoo’s Martial Arts in Hybla Valley, and the 18-year-old grew up in Northern Virginia. He is among 682 participating fighters, and will compete on tomorrow (Thursday) in the men’s 63 kilogram division.
“My family’s roots are in Sudan, and even though I grew up here in Northern Virginia, I carry that heritage with me every day,” Abdelrahman said in a release. “Competing for Sudan is my way of honoring where we come from.”
Abdelrahman was a member of the Amateur Athletic Union National Taekwondo team and won the silver medal at the Dracula Open in Bucharest, Romania.
“Yousif has developed into a remarkable athlete through years of commitment and discipline,” Yoo’s Martial Arts owner Jonathan Yoo said. “This opportunity reflects not only his hard work but also the legacy of our studio and community.”
A GoFundMe campaign started in support of Abdelrahman’s trip has so far raised $2,300.
Image via Yoo’s Authentic Martial Arts/Instagram
