Representatives of the ETU, including President Sakis Pragalos and secretary general Michael Fysentzidis, have also sent their commiserations to the HTF.

Proios entered the taekwondo family from an early age and was a co-athlete with current Deutsche Taekwondo Union President Stefan Klawiter.

Under the coaching of Seo Yoon Nam, he mastered the art of taekwondo and held the eighth dan.

Proios continued his career in coaching and was also an international referee.

He served as HTF vice-president for several years and was also the official coach of the Athletic Association of Sports and Education in Greek city Kastoria.

"Stavros had trained many outstanding athletes and he had passed the flame and passion of taekwondo to even more," an ETU statement reads.

"His conquering personality and character will forever remain in his friends and students."