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

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. (Screenshot/Saudi Taekwondo Federation)
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Updated 15 March 2024
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Taekwondo athlete Donia Abu Talib becomes first Saudi female to qualify for Paris Olympics

  • Talib’s victory in Asian qualifying means she will be at this summer’s Games in the French capital

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. 


Palace to face Bosnians Zrinjski in Conference League play-offs

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Palace to face Bosnians Zrinjski in Conference League play-offs

  • Palace missed out on a top-eight finish in the league phase
  • Their opponents finished the league phase in 23rd place with a record of two victories

PARIS: Crystal Palace will face Bosnian side Zrinjski for a spot in the UEFA Conference League last 16 after the sides were drawn together on Friday.
Palace missed out on a top-eight finish in the league phase, which would have guaranteed them direct progression to the round of 16, but were on the seeded half of the draw for the knock-out round playoffs.
As a result, the Eagles will play the second leg at their Selhurst Park home.
Their opponents finished the league phase in 23rd place with a record of two victories, one draw and three defeats.
Should Oliver Glasner’s FA Cup winners progress, they will face either Bundesliga outfit Mainz or Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca in the next round in March.
Two-time Conference League runners-up Fiorentina will face Jagiellonia of Poland, while Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar drew Noah of Armenia.
Lech Poznan will take on Finland’s KuPS Kuopio and Swiss side Lausanne meet Czechs Sigma Olomouc in some of the other choice play-off fixtures.
The 1st legs take place on Feb. 19 and the 2nd will be played on Feb. 26.

Friday’s knock-out round play-off draw in full:
Zrinjski (BIH) v Crystal Palace (ENG)
KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Lech Poznan (POL)
Shkendija (MKD) v Samsunspor (TUR)
Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v Lausanne (SUI)
Noah (ARM) v AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Jagiellonia (POL) v Fiorentina (ITA)
Drita (KOS) v Celje (SVN)
Omonoia (CYP) v Rijeka (CRO)