Taekwondo Is More Than Just Martial Arts for Hemah Raj

Who knew that behind the life of this Sunway College Johor Bahru student was a dedicated martial artist with years of experience, national achievements and an inspiring story? For Hemah Raj A/L M.M Moganedas, Taekwondo is more than just a sport - it is a lifelong journey shaped by discipline, character and determination since childhood. He first enrolled for the Foundation in Business programme and is now a year 2 undergraduate pursuing the Victoria University (VU) Bachelor of Business majoring in Management and Innovation. The 21-year-old student-athlete has successfully balanced academics and competitive Taekwondo while inspiring others through his passion for the Korean martial art.

Hemah Raj’s Taekwondo experience began at the age of four, introduced by his father, a former Taekwondo fighter and SUKMA athlete. Growing up in a family deeply connected to the sport, he and his brother were naturally drawn into training from a young age and now, developed into a lifelong commitment that would shape his identity both on and off the mat.

“When I was younger, I didn’t really enjoy it because there were many things I couldn’t do,” he shared. Although he represented Johor and consistently performed well in competitions from a young age, Hemah Raj’s relationship with Taekwondo evolved over time. However, with continuous encouragement from his father and brother, he stayed committed and slowly developed a deeper appreciation for the sport. Today, he holds a 4th Dan Black Belt and continues to train and teach.

His Taekwondo journey is marked by an impressive list of achievements, including multiple gold medals in national circuits such as SPORTEXCEL, TM International Taekwondo Invitation Championship, MITEC Taekwondo Invitation and Johor State and Open Championships. He competes at high levels such as the TM National Championship, where he earned a silver medal in the SEA Games selection category, and more recently secured a bronze at the National Championship Under middle category (80kg-87kg) and gold at the Johor Junior & Open Championship 2026 Under Welter Category (75kg-80kg).

Beyond competition, Hemah Raj plays an important leadership role on campus as Head of Taekwondo activity under the Recreation Club. He is responsible for training members. He also actively runs his own Taekwondo classes in Pekan Nanas, Pontian, where he mentors young learners and builds a growing community of practitioners. “I want my students to see that their coach is still competing and improving,” he said, emphasising his belief in leading through action.

Balancing academics, training and leadership responsibilities is challenging, but Hemah remains committed to his goals. He trains before classes, attends lectures during the day and continues training at night while ensuring his assignments are completed on time.

Looking ahead, his ambition is to expand his Taekwondo classes to reach more students, including introducing programmes in schools and community spaces. He also hopes to keep growing both personally and professionally while inspiring others through Taekwondo and self-growth.

As he pushes forward towards future opportunities in the sport, including aiming for a spot in the SUKMA selection, Hemah Raj is set on building something bigger, inspiring more students, creating more impact and growing a meaningful journey both inside and outside the ring. We wish him continued success in all pursuits!

“Discipline remains the greatest lesson Taekwondo has taught me. If you want something, you must fight for it and not wait for it to come to you.” - Hemah Raj