Last weekend, 28 Swiss athletes travelled to Montargis, France, for the Solidarity's Center Open 2025 - a G1-ranked international tournament held at the Complexe Sportif du Puiseaux. The event brought together more than 50 countries under the banner of sport, solidarity and human values. What makes this tournament stand out goes beyond the competition itself: born from the commitment of the organising club in Châlette and Master Mamadou, it is built around a humanitarian mission - refugee athletes compete fully covered, with no registration, accommodation or meal costs. Taekwondo as a platform for integration and opportunity, made real.
Saturday was cadet and junior day, and Switzerland showed up. With 23 athletes competing across multiple categories, the team delivered a standout performance: 14 medals in a single day, placing Switzerland 2nd in the country ranking. The atmosphere in the team was strong throughout, with athletes pushing each other and coaches tracking every fight closely.
The medal haul on Saturday:
Cadets:
Gold: Melin Öztekin (F -51kg)
Silver: Mohamed Zuberi (M -41kg), Sara Lukic (F -37kg), Freya Reusser (F -44kg)
Bronze: Sanja Djuric (F -44kg)
Juniors:
Gold: Kubilay Kaan Üzmez (M -51kg), Davud Güllü (M -73kg)
Silver: Nemanja Ristic (M -48kg), Nathan Roulier (M -63kg), Leyla Dacic (F -68kg), Sofija Zivkovic (F +68kg)
Bronze: Dario Petruzziello (M -45kg), Peyrew Abdullah (M -51kg), Quimek Ruiz (M -55kg)
Sunday brought a smaller senior squad of five, and the day was tougher. Mahdi Khavari fought through his second fight despite sustaining a patella injury during the match, finishing the bout before stepping off. We wish Mahdi a quick recovery. Despite the result, the senior group competed with commitment and the experience will count toward the season ahead.
Two days, 28 athletes, great teamwork and a competition that matters beyond the scoreboard. Well done to everyone who made the trip.
