Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 23, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Donia makes history, winning bronze in World Taekwondo Championship

Saudi Arabia’s Donia makes history, winning bronze in World Taekwondo Championship

Saudi Arabia’s Donia Abu Talib made an unprecedented achievement on Thursday by winning the bronze medal in the category of 49 kg in the 2022 World Taekwondo Championship.
Donia, the Saudi national taekwondo athlete, scripted history, by becoming the first Saudi woman to bag a taekwondo medal in the World Taekwondo Championship, by defeating Spanish world number one Adriana Cerezo Iglesias. Adriana is the gold medalist in the Women’s World Championship and winner of the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Donia made brilliant feats all throughout the championship. In the round of 64, she defeated the Kazakh national team player Kabanova Butakoz 2-0, to meet the world’s eighth-ranked German player Suvarada Kishkalt, beating her 2-1 in the 32nd round.

In the round of 16, Donia defeated the Egyptian national team player Shahad Al-Husseini, ranked 9th in the world by 2-0.

Donia, qualified for the round of 8, beating the Spanish world number one, Adriana. However, in the semi-finals, she faced defeat at the hands of Qin Gu of China, winning the bronze medal.

Brig. Gen. Shaddad Al-Omari, president of the Saudi Taekwondo Federation, congratulated Donia for her remarkable achievement. “This distinction is the culmination of the efforts made by officials in the sports sector,” he said while thanking the Saudi leadership for the unstinted support that enabled to score great achievements in the sports sector.

Donia is among the four competitors representing Saudi Arabia in the championship. Athletes from 122 nations are taking part in the championship, which began in the Mexican city of Guadalajara on Nov. 13 and will continue until Nov. 20.

Other athletes representing Saudi Arabia in the championship are Fahd Al-Samih, who is competing in the 54 kg category, Riyad Al-Dhafiri (58 kg), and Ali Al-Mabrouk (80 kg).

Donia won the first bronze medal in 53 kg in the 25th Asian Taekwondo Championship, which was held in Chuncheon, South Korea, last June. She also won the first Saudi gold medal for women in taekwondo, at the Arab Taekwondo Championship, held in the UAE in 2020.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
×