Egypt has recently lost one a legendary icon in the sport of taekwondo. Major General Ahmed Fouly might have left the world and his beloved sport, but he will never be forgotten. He will always remain the great man of taekwondo. 

Egypt’s World Taekwondo vice president, head of the African Taekwondo Federation, and former president of the Union Confederation of Sports Associations (UCSA) Ahmed Fouly passed away on Sunday, 27 September 2020.

The 70-year-old, who was a police general, had been receiving hospital treatment following a heart attack in August, but his condition had since deteriorated.

The Egyptian National Olympic Committee (ENOC) of which Fouly was a former member, has together with the Egyptian Taekwondo Federation (ETF) where he was a former president, held a memorial service in tribute to Fouly at the premises of the ENOC. The service was attended by Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Ashraf Sobhy as well as top sports officials and public figures in Egypt. Attendees included President of the International Handball Federation Dr. Hassan Moustafa, ENOC President Hisham Hatab, and ETF President and member of ENOC Amr Selim. 

Also attending was the South Korean Ambassador to Egypt Hong Jin-wook, who was present on behalf of President of World Taekwondo Chungwon Choue.

“We truly appreciate the attendance of the Korean Ambassador Hong Jin-wook for sharing in our grief and for delivering a genuine speech about General Fouly despite not having met the deceased in person as he was only recently appointed. However, he had received a phone call from President of World Taekwondo Dr. Chungwon Choue in which he asked him to attend on his behalf and told him how the late Egyptian Fouly was an exceptional man,” Selim said.

The memorial service gave an opportunity for people to show respect and honor the family of the deceased. Amr Selim gave a warm and whole-hearted speech in tribute to Fouly.

“Those who raise the Egyptian flag in worldwide championships and Olympic Games are not only winning athletes, but also sports officials and reputable leaders and figures such as Maj. Gen. Fouly who, for many years, achieved so many accomplishments in the name of Egypt in many international occasions. Throughout his sports career, he has maintained excellent relations with the sports leaders and icons, not only in taekwondo, but in all other sports. He has earned love, appreciation, and respect from all over the world,” Selim said.

“It has been such a long journey with Fouly at the Egyptian Taekwondo Federation. I served as his vice president in the mandate from 2000-2008, when we managed to lead the federation and produce skillful and world-class athletes who went on to win Olympic medals including Tamer Salah in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens whose coach was the former international champion Amr Khairy. From there, taekwondo launched into its glory days, which we are witnessing today on both the African and global arenas,” Selim added.

Since the death of Ahmed Fouly, President of the ETF Amr Selim has been receiving messages of condolences from all over the world as Fouly was such a beloved and highly reputable figure in the sports world. 

“I have received plenty of messages of condolences from many international taekwondo federations from all over the world and from other sports federations as well,” Selim said, adding that some of them were even keen to pay their condolences in person. 

“Unfortunately, due to the travel restrictions of from COVID-19, they were unable to do so. However, some of them have released heartfelt obituaries on their websites and social media accounts, for which we are thankful.”

Though he couldn’t travel to Egypt and participate in the memorial service, the first vice president of African Taekwondo and the current acting president, Issaka Ide of Niger, delegated Secretary General Nadia Sobhy to pay tributes and deliver a speech on his behalf. Issaka Ide is also president of the Niger Olympic Committee.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue eulogized Fouly: 

“Today we lost a great man of taekwondo. Since 2001 when he became a member of the World Taekwondo Council, and especially since 2004 when I appointed him as vice president of World Taekwondo, General Fouly dedicated his life to elevating our beloved martial art and sport to what we are today: one of the best governed Olympic and Paralympic international sports federations in the world.

In his capacity as president of Taekwondo Africa, General Fouly oversaw the meteoric rise of taekwondo in the region. Five medals from Africa under his leadership at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games truly demonstrated the universality of taekwondo to the world. Taekwondo is now one of the most popular sports in Africa and continues to produce champions on and off the mat.

More importantly, for those of us who know General Fouly personally, we have lost a great friend and brother. Throughout my presidency and especially in my personal life, Gen. Fouly was one of the most trusted, trustworthy, and supportive friends that anyone could have had.  

Our brother may be gone, but his contributions to taekwondo will never be forgotten. My memories of Gen. Fouly and love for him as my brother will never be forgotten.”

As well as serving as World Taekwondo vice president, Fouly contributed to those less fortunate through his support of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF). He also served as chairman of the World Taekwondo Hall of Fame Committee.

World Taekwondo paid its respects to Fouly by setting up a memorial at the federation’s headquarters in Seoul.

The memorial stood for two days and saw a number of people from the World Taekwondo family and staff pay tribute to their colleague and friend.

Fouly will be greatly missed but his legacy will live on and continue to benefit generations of taekwondo athletes in Africa and beyond.