JEDDAH: Donia Abu Taleb’s qualification for the Paris Olympics was a “historic” day for Saudi Arabia, said Saudi Taekwondo Federation President Shaddad Al-Omari, who also highlighted the growth of the sport across the country in recent years.

“Seriously I was not surprised by the performance of our athlete,” Al-Omari told Arab News during an interview recently.

Al-Omari was overcome with emotion after Abu Taleb confirmed her spot in Paris, weeping on the sidelines of the women’s under-49 kg division competition at the Asian qualification tournament in Tai’an, China.

“It is a natural feeling for a national achievement that we have been searching for many years,” he said, recalling the moment. “Donia Abu Taleb has worked hard and suffered, we also suffered with her. It is, in short, (the joy of a homeland) for an exceptional, historic achievement by a Saudi woman who wants to say to the whole world in Paris ‘I am here and I am the daughter of this generous homeland.’”

Abu Taleb won a bronze medal at the Arab Taekwondo Championship Cup in 2022.

Al-Omari also highlighted the growth of the sport in the country. “We are very happy for all the achievements we have made which led to a prominent development in the game of taekwondo here in Saudi Arabia, through winning a large number of medals and supplying the national teams with players capable of taking the podiums.”

Since he took over the federation in 2017, Al-Omari’s target has been to develop Olympic-standard athletes.

“The dream has come true with the achievement of our hero Donia Abu Taleb but I always say that in order to be realistic and honest, making an Olympic champion requires concerted efforts from many sides including family, school, and the neighborhood in which athletes live,” he said.

“This is what we are working on. The Olympics are very difficult, but I have great confidence that taekwondo, and other sports, will have a great importance in the near future.”

Al-Omari thanked King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the minister of sport for supporting the athletes.

Al-Omari said Abu Taleb’s achievement would inspire other athletes. “A few years ago, we just had 10,000 athletes registered, but now we have reached around 70,000 and we target 100,000 athletes in the near future.”