RIYADH — Saudi national taekwondo athlete Sabah Asiri has vowed to return to competition after suffering a serious hand injury in the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an incident that turned her journey home from a gold medal-winning performance into a battle for recovery.
Asiri, who represents the Saudi national team and Al Shabab Club, recounted the terrifying moments of the attack in an interview published by the Saudi Ministry of Health on its official X account.
She said she was waiting to board a flight to Jeddah with her father when the situation at the airport suddenly changed.
In the confusion that followed, Asiri discovered that her hand had been injured and her phone was missing. She described experiencing shock and fear as passengers attempted to leave the area and reach safety.
Asiri said she initially struggled to understand what had happened before joining others in evacuating the airport.
Following the attack, she was transferred to King Fahd Hospital, where she underwent surgery to stabilize fractured bones and stitch her wounds.
The athlete revealed that she still faces two additional operations as part of her treatment and recovery.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Asiri expressed determination to return to taekwondo as soon as her medical condition allows.
The attack came shortly after Asiri had won a gold medal in a qualifying competition for the Minister’s Cup. She and her father were returning to Jeddah following the event when the airport was attacked.
The Saudi athlete has represented the Kingdom in several international, Gulf and Arab competitions, including the Gulf Games, where she secured a silver medal.
She also competed in the Arab Cup in Fujairah and has earned several medals during her career with the Saudi national team.
Asiri said her previous achievements remained a source of motivation as she faced the challenges of rehabilitation and recovery.
She thanked the medical team at King Fahd Hospital for the care and attention she had received since her admission.
Her father, Mahmoud Asiri, also expressed appreciation to the hospital staff and Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel for their support.
“We came for the training camp, then competed in the championship and won gold. We were on our way back to Jeddah, but what happened happened, and alhamdullelah in all circumstances,” he said.
He praised the medical team’s efforts, saying the family had received comprehensive care and attention throughout the treatment process.
Asiri, meanwhile, remained focused on her recovery and her ambition to represent Saudi Arabia again on the international stage.
“We Saudis always have high ambitions, and nothing can break us,” she said.
Source: Saudi Gazette