Hemen Mehdi, a distinguished Taekwondo trainer at Qala Sports Club, has recently achieved remarkable recognition in the global martial arts community. Since 2017, Mehdi has amassed an impressive collection of accolades, including six international awards—five gold and one silver—as well as a gold medal at the Asian level and another from the United States.
In a statement highlighting his achievements, Mehdi declared, “I am the first athlete in the entire Middle East to hold the most titles.” This year, he became the first individual in Iraq to earn an international black belt and 6th dan certification. “I completed a 15-day course, and today I am proud to be recognized as a Master in Taekwondo and one of the world’s best referees,” he added.
At the national level, Mehdi holds two unique Class II certifications in Iraq. This month, he participated in the World Olympics, securing two gold medals and setting world records in speed tile breaking and breaking 16 power tiles, earning him the title “Breaking King” globally.
In addition to his competitive achievements, Mehdi serves as an international evaluation specialist responsible for assessing black belt candidates from first to fifth dan on behalf of the International Olympic Union. He also represents Korea in Iraq and has awarded over 700 certificates in Kurdistan over the past two years.
Mehdi’s accolades span multiple years and locations: he was crowned world champion in 2017, topped the podium in Indonesia in 2019, and achieved first place in America in 2020 among competitors from 37 countries. This year, he again secured world champion status, participating in an international training course in Chicago where he won the best referee award.
His educational credentials are equally impressive. Mehdi earned his Master’s degree from the World Taekwondo Academy in Korea in 2015, followed by an international referee certificate in Tunisia in 2019. In 2021, he was appointed as an expert for international black belt tests at the World Taekwondo Center. Further certifications followed from various Taekwondo academies in Korea and the United States, culminating in 2024 when he received a second-level Master’s degree and referee certificate and was named one of the world’s top 10 referees. Additionally, he was honored with recognition as a world personality in Taekwondo in Korea and Britain.
With his relentless dedication and numerous accomplishments, Hemen Mehdi is not only a pioneer in the field of Taekwondo in Iraq but also a source of inspiration for martial artists worldwide.