By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A 17-year-old fighter has punched through a bureaucratic brick wall that threatened to upend his international martial arts career.
Rahullah Sarwari, of Dandenong, was denied representing Australia in Kung Fu world titles last year due to a citizenship row.
With great agility, Mr Sarwari has quickly reinvented himself as a kickboxer.
He was recently selected for Australia to take part in the 17-18 year old division of WAKO kickboxing world titles in Italy in September.
“Rather than wait for my citizenship, I thought there should be another way in which I could go for a world game.
“(In kickboxing) they don’t ask you about your citizenship stuff.
“So I competed in state championships and national championships, and I was selected for the Australian team again.”
Mr Sarwari had been unable to compete in Kung Fu titles while his application for Australian citizenship was pending.
Due to a typo, his father’s credit card payment was declined during the application.
By the time, the family was notified, Mr Sarwari turned 16 and so was bumped up into a different category for prospective citizenship.
He and his supporters pleaded for the Federal Government to fast-track his application ahead of the titles.
They pointed to his great character, volunteering as a Bonbeach surf lifesaver as well as his national gold medals in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton stated in a letter that he and his Department had no power to “waive the requirements”.
Without government funding, Mr Sarwari is now scrambling for sponsors to help him pay for the $5000 trip to the world titles, including a high-altitude training camp.
To help, go to https://www.gofundme.com/nrytv-world-kickboxing-championships
