Amid the destruction left by war, coach Mahmoud Al-Kronz is helping children and young people in central Gaza rediscover their passion for taekwondo, as they resume training and hold on to dreams of competing internationally.
In Al-Bureij, in the central Gaza Strip, the sound of training has returned despite the ruins and harsh conditions surrounding the athletes. For 43-year-old Mahmoud Al-Kronz, who trains children and young people in the martial art of taekwondo, the resumption of practice marks a significant step towards rebuilding a sporting activity disrupted by war.
After a three-year hiatus, the trainees are back practising the sport they love, seeking to regain their rhythm and continue developing their skills despite the difficult circumstances in which they now train.
For Al-Kronz, helping the young athletes continue practising means keeping the sport accessible to a new generation of trainees, even when the conditions for training are far from ideal.
The resumption of activities comes as Gaza continues to grapple with the consequences of war, which has left widespread destruction across the territory. For young people, the challenges extend beyond the loss of facilities and the interruption of daily routines to the difficulty of maintaining opportunities for recreation, personal development and sport.
Despite these obstacles, the athletes are looking beyond their immediate surroundings. Their ambition to compete internationally remains a driving force as they return to training after years away from the sport.
Their journey in Al-Bureij highlights the determination of young athletes to pursue their dreams amid adversity, with each training session offering another opportunity to rebuild their skills and work towards the possibility of representing Gaza on the international stage.
