Belgium’s Raheleh Asemani has thanked the International Olympic Committee and the World Taekwondo Federation ©WTF

Belgium’s Raheleh Asemani has thanked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) after she was cleared to represent her adopted nation at Rio 2016.

Asemani, who fled her native Iran in 2012, was granted citizenship in April of last year but she remained unsure whether she would compete for Belgium or for the Refugee Team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The 27-year-old was working as a postwoman in Belgium when IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed a team of refugees would take part at the Games for the first time in the Brazilian city.

Asemani fought under the WTF flag at the European Qualification Tournament, where she came up against Belgian competitor Indra Craen before going on to win the 57 kilograms competition.

Her victory earned her qualification as a refugee athlete but she applied instead to represent Belgium, and her request was duly granted by Bach.

“I got big help from the IOC and the WTF,” she told Agence France Presse.

“What can be more beautiful than to have a country at the Olympic Games?

“I had lived four years in Belgium and been training with the Belgian Team.

“The people of the country supported me and did everything for me.”

Raheleh Asemani missed out on a medal at Rio 2016 ©WTF
Raheleh Asemani missed out on a medal at Rio 2016 ©WTF

Asemani exited the 57kg competition at Rio 2016 after she was beaten by Britain’s Jade Jones, who went on to defend her Olympic title.

The Belgian player then narrowly missed out on a bronze medal following a golden point defeat to Hedaya Wahba of Egypt.

“First, I had hoped to be in Rio; second, I wanted to do my best, and I think I did it,” Asemani added.

“After Rio I could not accept that I had lost in golden point.

“Then I started my job in the post office – and I have really good friends in the post office – and they supported me and they said, ‘You must go one more time; you can do it; you are the best’ and that was really positive energy for me.”

Asemani is now targeting competing at this year’s World Championships in Muju in South Korea, due to take place from June 22 to 30.

The Iranian-born Belgian also refused to rule out an appearance at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“I want to be in the worlds and I want to win and do my best as I did not fight in 2013 or 2015,” she said.

“It will be my first time on the Belgian Team.

“I cannot speak about Tokyo, I think I will be too old, I want to see how my body is

“I want to do taekwondo in my best condition and get the best result.”