Ruhollah Nikpa took charge of the New Zealand national taekwondo team.

Ruhollah Nikpa, a former member of the Afghanistan national taekwondo team and the holder of two bronze medals from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games, was chosen as the coach of the New Zealand national taekwondo team. Nikpa has the experience of coaching the Afghan national junior Taekwondo team.

Ruhollah Nikpa is the only athlete in the history of Afghan sports who has won two medals from the Olympic Games in the adult category. Apart from two Olympic medals in 2008 and 2012, Nikpa has won two bronze medals in 2008 and 2014 and a silver medal in 2012 from the Asian Taekwondo Championship.

He also won a bronze medal from the World Championships in 2011. Nikpa, who is the legend of Afghanistan's sports, the country's first and last Olympic medalist, has been a refugee to New Zealand for several years and has recently been selected as the coach of the New Zealand national taekwondo team.

Nikpa wrote on his Facebook page: "I am proud to be appointed by the Taekwondo Federation of New Zealand as the coach of the national Taekwondo team of this country."

He added: "I am committed to bring the team to a new level by providing my knowledge and skills and together we will make history for New Zealand Taekwondo."