Saudi taekwondo player Donia Abu Taleb beat her Israeli opponent Abisag Simberg 2-1 to reach the semi-finals of the under-49 kilogram category on Wednesday at the Olympics in Paris.
After falling behind in the first round 2-6, Abu Talib was on course to lose the second when the Israeli team took a 4-1 lead, but Saudi Arabia scored a header that turned the result in his favor.
In the decisive third round, the fight was one-sided, as Abu Talib swept her opponent 10-0.
Saudi Arabia celebrated its victory and refused to speak to the media in the mixed arena, while Simberg, the bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, broke down in tears.
Donia Abu Talib.. from “boy fight” to Saudi Arabia’s dream of Olympic gold
Saudi athlete Donia Abu Talib started practicing taekwondo with boys because women were not allowed to practice the sport at the time, but the Asian champion and the first Saudi woman ever to qualify for the hOlympics through the qualifications now dreaming of getting an Olympics. gold in Paris.
The 27-year-old will later play the winner between Thai Panipak Wongpatanakit and Moroccan Omaima El Bouchti.
Abu Talib started practicing taekwondo with boys because women were not allowed to practice the sport at that time, but the Asian champion and the first ever Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympics through the qualifications -now dreaming of winning Olympic gold in Paris.
If the veiled brunette girl achieves her goal, she will be the first Saudi athlete ever to win a medal in the Olympics, and she will even leave her mark on the first gold medal for her country.
The career of the girl began with a wide smile, who now has a lot of support and attention from the government, and whose pictures are spread on banners in the streets, by the boys, because there was no permission Saudi women have used sports for a few years. ago.
Before taking part in Paris, she told AFP after finishing an afternoon training session in Abha in the kingdom’s south-west, “I started taekwondo when I was eight years old and there was no support exists as it is now.
She recalled her difficult beginning with a big smile, “I always played with the boys in the boys’ center, without girls at first. I used to wear a head covering to cover my hair so it wouldn’t show I wish I was a girl.”
The girl from the city of Jeddah boldly said that the men who were fighting “separated me and strengthened me.” I like the challenge.”
For decades, the wealthy Gulf kingdom was socially closed and did not allow women to practice sports.
The first participation of a Saudi athlete in the Olympics was through judoka Wijdan Shahrkhani at the London 2012 championship through a special invitation, but she lost after only 82 seconds, while Sarah Attar finished last in her qualifications in the 800-meter race.
Since Prince Mohammed bin Salman became Crown Prince in 2017, Saudi Arabia has eased restrictions on women, allowing them to drive cars and encouraging them to work in various fields. departments.
Saudi and Israeli fans who were present at the conflict
The authorities lifted the ban on women entering football stadiums and launched a women’s football league and national team.
Abu Talib benefited from these social reforms and received great support from the local football federation.
A golden dream
The player, who has a law degree and has yet to practice law, was aiming to win the first ever gold medal for Saudi female players in the Arab Championship in the Emirates in February 2020.
Despite not qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021, she was able to win a 53 kg bronze medal in the 2022 Asian Championships, and a 49 kg bronze medal in the World Championships in Mexico in the same year .
Last March, Abu Talib became the first ever Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympics through the qualifications, before winning gold in the 2024 Asian Championships, the first Saudi championship taekwondo ever. Results that allowed him to rise to fourth place in the world in the weight category under 53 kg.
Near a large banner with her picture inside the Taekwondo hall in Abha, Abu Talib said: “From the beginning, I dreamed of becoming a world champion, participating in the Olympics, and earn gold. “
Historically, Saudi athletes have been satisfied with four Olympic medals: two silver and two bronze, all for men.
2024-08-07 09:31:37
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