Students of Choong-Moo Taekwon-do (right) honour Uqasha Imran (left) at the launch of her foundation on Thursday. Photos: Supplied.
A new foundation to support underprivileged children is named after a high-achieving and talented athlete whose life was taken far too soon by a fatal crash earlier this year.
Uqasha Imran was riding her motorbike along the Barton Highway in Nicholls on 11 March 2025 when the driver of a Transport Canberra bus ran through a stop sign and crashed into her.
She died in hospital several days later, aged 22.
Her father, Imran Amjad, has previously described her to Region as a resolute athlete, loyal friend, philanthropist, focused professional and great humanitarian with a generous heart.
She joined the Choong-Moo Taekwon-do Club in Canberra when she was nine years old and the sport became her biggest passion.
Uqasha mentored children in the club. When she died, she was just two months away from going for her third-degree black belt, which she had been training for over the last six years.
On Thursday (13 November), during the week when she would have turned 23, both students of the club and members of the community gathered at her old school, Amaroo School, during a taekwon-do training session for the launch of the Uqasha Imran Foundation.
“[This is] the only way to not just cherish her life, but continue what she was doing,” Mr Amjad said.
“Not only does she live on this way, but her purpose in life is not lost with her.
“Other than her family, the most time she dedicated to anything in her life was her taekwon-do club.”
The foundation aims to support underprivileged or disadvantaged children, especially girls, in self-defence sports by providing financial assistance with transportation and accommodation costs to ensure they can participate in tournaments.
To honour the memory of Uqasha Imran (centre), the Choong Moo Taekwon-do Club began an annual tournament in her memory. Photo: Supplied by family.
Mr Amjad, whose family is from Pakistan, said further down the track, the foundation will also aim to financially support the children of migrants who engage in sport as well.
“I’ve seen in the past when migrants come to Australia … the initial costs go to having a roof over their heads and kids’ activities take a backseat,” he said.
He said the foundation was still in the early stages of being established, but he planned to be sponsoring children by June 2026, when the Choong-Moo club held its second taekwon-do tournament in his daughter’s name.
His family recently supported three children to attend a tournament in Newcastle.
He plans to start funding the foundation through his family, then from his business, Véurr Financial Planning, before reaching out to other businesses in Canberra.
“I am certain if I knock on the doors of the businesses and say I’m doing this, I don’t think they will be holding back,” he said.
Mr Amjad thought Uqasha would be very proud to hear about the work the foundation aims to accomplish.
“We need to keep in mind what she would have done, because she was very passionate about her sport and spending time in healthy activities,” he said.
“I certainly wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of my family, my wife and kids.
“They have stood courageous and strong behind me.”
If you are interested in supporting the Uqasha Imran Foundation, contact Mr Amjad at imran@veurr.com.au.
