Iranian Kung Fu master Yaser Zomorodi is fighting to gain citizenship in Australia, to represent the country in the World Games this November.
A five time champion in Iran, Yaser has won national titles in Australia but can't yet compete internationally.
Instead he volunteers his time teaching children self-defence in the outer Melbourne suburb of Dandenong.
Head coach at Lifestyle Martial Arts Bruce Corles said Yaser's background and language is a real asset to the gym, which is located in an area with a large population of refugees and migrants.
"The demographics of the area is such that we have a lot of Afghani people here, and when the young Afghani kids come they also speak the same language."
Yaser is on a bridging visa that doesn't allow him to work.
"I don't know what [will] happen to me if I have to go back there, I have nothing there, just my family."
He arrived in Australia in 2013 on a boat from Indonesia followed by 10 weeks in a detention centre. He was released just before a change in government and the enactment of the so-called 'turn the boats back' policy.
Yaser said his life in Iran is a painful memory.
"I don't know what [will] happen to me if I have to go back there, I have nothing there, just my family," he said.
Last week he won gold at the Australian Kung Fu Wu-shu Championships.
Head coach Bruce Corles said Yaser's skills are well beyond anything ever seen in Australia.
"The skills that he's got, his competition was just so effortlessly won. He really impressed the selectors."
Yaser has qualified for the World Games in Indonesia this November, but without citizenship he's not allowed to represent Australia.
"For Australia to miss out on these precious medals that we need so desperately it's a real shame".
His trainers are working with immigration lawyers to make sure he can compete come November.
Team manager Sarah Corles said it will be a great disappointment if he misses out.
"For Australia to miss out on these precious medals that we need so desperately it's a real shame. The head coach and myself are working very hard with a group of people including immigration lawyers and local MPs to try and speed up the process and all fingers crossed we can try and get these professional athletes to represent us."
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