RIYADH — Saudi Arabian taekwondo champion Dunia Abu Talib has been awarded the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award for Asia for 2024, marking a historic first for Saudi sports. Abu Talib, the first Saudi woman to qualify for the Olympic Games and win an Asian gold medal, received the honor in recognition of her role in promoting gender equality in sports and inspiring female athletes on both local and international levels. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, praised the achievement, saying: "I congratulate Dunia Abu Talib on this well-deserved recognition, which reflects the tremendous progress women's sports in the Kingdom have achieved, thanks to the unwavering support of our leadership." He added that this award reaffirms the pivotal role Saudi women now play in global sports and serves as motivation for the next generation of female athletes to achieve even greater success. Abu Talib expressed her pride in receiving the award, emphasizing that it reflects the extensive efforts made to empower women in sports and support them in their pursuit of excellence. The Saudi athlete currently holds the No. 1 ranking in the under-53kg category in the World Taekwondo Federation's global standings for March 2025.
