Who we are

Rahbordi Academy is a nonprofit organization founded by Daniel Sabzpoushan in 2024 to make sports more accessible to young people, regardless of financial circumstances. The academy provides free swimming and table tennis instruction, using athletics not only to promote physical health, but also to cultivate discipline, strategic thinking, confidence, and community.

The name “راهبردی,” or “Rahbordi,” comes from the Persian word for “strategic, ”a reflection of Daniel’s Persian heritage and the academy’s belief that sports are about more than physical performance. In both swimming and table tennis, athletes learn to think ahead, adapt under pressure, and turn small decisions into meaningful outcomes. Rahbordi Academy was created to bring these opportunities to children who might otherwise lack access to affordable training and organized athletic programs.

Daniel’s mission is deeply personal.

In October 2017, when Daniel was just seven years old, his aunt in Kashan, Iran, a city in northern Isfahan Province (a city facing economic challenges), passed away from cancer in her early 40s. Losing someone he loved at such a young age left a lasting mark on him. Years later, that experience became a source of purpose: Daniel wanted to build something that connected his passion for athletics with a broader mission of strengthening communities and supporting people affected by cancer.

Sports became the foundation for that vision.

Daniel has been a varsity swimmer since his freshman year of high school, a varsity cross-country athlete since his sophomore year, and a competitive table tennis player since middle school. Through years of training and competition, he has seen firsthand how athletics can shape more than an athlete’s body. Sports teach resilience after failure, discipline when motivation fades, strategic thinking under pressure, and the importance of working alongside others toward a shared goal.

Rahbordi Academy brings those lessons beyond the playing field.

By offering free swimming and table tennis training, the academy seeks to remove financial barriers that can prevent young people from participating in sports. At the same time, it aims to create a community where children can develop healthy habits, build meaningful relationships, and discover the confidence that comes from challenging themselves.

For Daniel, Rahbordi is about more than teaching children how to swim or play table tennis. It is about using the skills he has developed through athletics to create opportunities for others, and ultimately contributing to a healthier, stronger, and more progressive society.

His long-term vision is rooted in a simple belief: no family should have to experience the loss he experienced at seven years old. By connecting youth athletics, community service, and his commitment to supporting cancer patients on a global level, Daniel hopes to turn personal loss into lasting impact.