In a historic moment for Saudi sports, talented taekwondo player Dunya Abu Talib made headlines at the Paris Olympics by reaching the quarter-finals in the under 49 kg category at the expense of Israeli competitor Avishai Simberg. The Saudi champion defeated her Israeli rival with a score of 2-1, dominating the third round with a score of 10-0. While Dunya Abu Talib celebrated her victory and qualification for the next round, her Israeli competitor was seen crying as she left the venue where the match took place.
#### Who is Dunya Abu Talib?
Dunya is 27 years old and began practicing taekwondo with her father's support at the age of eight. This sport was rare in Saudi Arabia. She trained in a private club until the age of 13.
#### Her Career
Dunya, hailing from the coastal city of Jeddah, is characterized by her spirit of challenge and determination. She holds a degree in law but has not yet practiced as a lawyer; instead, she has dedicated her life to achieving unprecedented sports accomplishments. These include winning the first gold medal for Saudi women at the Arab Championship in the UAE in 2020, as well as earning a bronze medal in the 53 kg category at the 2022 Asian Championship and a bronze in the 49 kg category at the World Championship in Mexico the same year. Dunya was the only female athlete on the Saudi team at the 2022 World Taekwondo Championship.
In March of last year, Abu Talib became the first Saudi woman ever to qualify for the Olympics through the qualifiers after successfully passing the Asian qualifiers. Dunya dreams of winning a historic Olympic medal at the Paris Olympics to add to her impressive recent achievements.
