Taekwondo athlete Donia Abu Talib becomes first Saudi female to qualify for Paris Olympics

LONDON: Taekwondo athlete Donia Abu Talib became the first female from Saudi Arabia to qualify for this year’s Olympics in Paris, the sport’s federation in the Kingdom announced on Friday. 

Talib’s victory in Asian qualifying means she will be at this summer’s Games in the French capital and her success was celebrated by the Saudi ambassador to the US.

“Saudi Taekwondo national team member Donia Abu Talib is officially the first Saudi female athlete to qualify for the Olympics, she successfully competed in the Asian qualifying rounds for the Olympic Games!!!! @saudiolympic,” Princess Reema bint Bandar said in a post on X.

Talib previously won a bronze medal at the Arab Taekwondo Championship Cup in 2022.