The 22-year-old had every reason to feel on top of the world: He had just been crowned world champion in the K42, over 75 kilogram category after a series of tough fights, notably against opposition from Azerbaijan.

Omirali had previously played football, before being introduced to taekwondo by his coach, Almas Abdikairov. In the run-up to the World Championships, Omirali was put through a grueling work-up: cross-training, overall physical conditioning and match-specific training.

The preparation was particularly important for Omirali, as Moscow marked the first time he had stepped onto the mats of a World Championship. "It was my first experience at the top level," Omirali said.

The gold medal that Nyshan Omirali was so proud to win at the 5th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships in Moscow in 2014 ©Nyshan Omirali

Once he landed in the Russian capital, Omirali would find that it was not just the intense physical preparation that would carry him toward gold. As the fraught action in the Dinamo Sports Palace got underway, he would be favoured by the rules. With head kicks disallowed for the safety of the Para-athletes, the WTF had put a premium on spinning kicks to the body, which scored three points, compared to one point for normal kicks. And Omirali's favorite technique is his scorching spinning back kick.

The back-kick is a standout technique of taekwondo. A crowd-pleasing move, delivered with a full body spin and often also a jump, it is used largely in counter attacks. Known in martial arts and combat sports circles as one of the most powerful blows the human body can deliver, it smashes into the opponent's body protector.

This, then, would be the move that Omirali unleashed time and again. "My favourite technique is the back kick," he recalled. "I am glad it worked for me."

With the action over, Omirali had done what he had set out to do. "My ultimate goal was only gold, and only first place!" he said.

Goal achieved.