Once facing uncertain future in Canada, this kickboxer just won a championship for N.L.

Ariana Kelland · CBC News

· Posted: May 02, 2024 4:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: 44 minutes ago

An Egyptian-born kickboxer living in Newfoundland who once faced an uncertain future in Canada has had a turn of fortunes, both inside and outside the ring.

Two years ago, Hady Ghoneim, made a last-ditch effort to stay in the country after violating a rule of his study permit. The odds weren't in his favour, but Ghoneim — who describes himself as "half Egyptian, half salt beef" — was desperate to stay. 

Ghoneim, now 28, spoke with CBC News about the plight and his hope for the future, which spurred support from the community and both levels of government.

After a lengthy wait, Ghoneim received confirmation of his permanent residency in February. 

"I'm very grateful and happy. Now I have my MCP, I can go to a hospital. I can compete without having that anxiety," Ghoneim said in a recent interview, referring to Newfoundland and Labrador's medical care plan.

"All this has been lifted off my shoulders, I can go visit my family."

It also paved the way for him to compete at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations' Canadian national championship last weekend in Niagara Falls, Ont., where he took home the national title in his weight class and was named WAKO athlete of the year.

WATCH | Kickboxer prepares for fight years in the making: 

"It's an honour to be able to give back to this beautiful place, this beautiful island, and to give back to my coach and my teammates for all the hard work together," said Ghoneim who brought Egyptian and Newfoundland and Labrador flags to the competition. 

"Fighting is a very, very lonely sport, and it's an individual sport when you're inside the ring. But to get to that point, it's all team sport."

Officially home

Ghoneim arrived in St. John's on a sunny and warm May day in 2017, and was immediately struck by the rugged beauty of the place and the people who inhabit it.

He attended Memorial University for a year and a half, but after he and his family in Egypt fell on tough financial times, Ghoneim said, he abandoned his studies.

He later returned to school, but it was too late. 

By leaving school for any amount of time — not including scheduled school breaks — he violated a rule of his study permit that requires permit holders to remain in university.

Through his lawyer, Ghoneim applied for his permanent residency with a humanitarian and compassionate grounds application — a potential long shot, but one that paid off. 

Ghoneim is now returning to Egypt to visit his family for the first time in seven years, something he couldn't do until he received his permanent residency. 

Coach Robbie Wiseman, who also took home a national title in his weight division, said Ghoneim's approach to his fight to become a Canadian mirrors his moves in the ring. 

"There's no giving up with Hady. You have to persevere and and keep chipping away, chipping away, and that's the way he fights as well," said Wiseman, of Rock Athletics in Mount Pearl.

"There's no backing up, and when he goes forward he just keeps going until until he finds what he's looking for."

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