PESHAWAR: Hailing from the rugged valleys of Khyber district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, young Masood Afridi has brought glory to Pakistan on the world stage, proving that determination, hard work, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.
Raised in a region once scarred by terrorism, this resilient athlete is now a Global Taekwondo Champion. His achievement has not only made Pakistan proud but also given every child and youth in Khyber a renewed sense of hope and inspiration.
The year 2025 was a dream come true for Masood Afridi. At the Global Taekwondo World Championship in Dubai, where athletes from more than 25 countries competed, he surprised everyone by winning a gold medal and three other medals. Before this, he had already won gold medals for Pakistan in Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
In a special interview, Masood Afridi said his childhood was very difficult. "I lost my father at a young age, and then extremism and poverty in the tribal areas felt like huge walls blocking my dreams," he explained. But Masood never gave up. He continued his education and training, and as soon as he could, he decided to do something big with his life. Masood Afridi added that in 2023, when Taekwondo wasn't well-known in Pakistan on a global level, he was the first to introduce the Global Taekwondo Federation. He trained himself and local young people, and then made his dream of competing internationally a reality.
Now, he is the General Secretary of the Global Taekwondo Federation Pakistan. He also shared a tough story from his journey: "When I was going to a championship in Kyrgyzstan in 2023, their embassy rejected my visa 23 times. The 24th time I applied, I finally got it, but there were only two days left before the championship started." To pay for his travel costs, he even had to sell his mobile phone.
Through his amazing spirit and personal sacrifice, Masood Afridi has not only achieved his own dreams but has also opened doors for many other athletes in Pakistan.
