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The Saudi Ministry of Health released an interview in which national taekwondo athlete Sabah Asiri recounted waiting at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with her father for a flight to Jeddah after winning gold in a Minister’s Cup qualifier when the Houthi attack suddenly altered the scene. Asiri described the immediate confusion in which she sustained a hand injury and lost her phone, leading to shock and fear as she joined other passengers in seeking safety. The ministry’s account detailed how the incident transformed her return from competition into the beginning of an extensive medical process at King Fahd Hospital.
According to the Ministry of Health interview, Asiri underwent initial surgery to stabilize fractured bones and close wounds, with two further operations scheduled as part of her ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. The athlete, who represents both the Saudi national team and Al Shabab Club, kept a recent medal near her hospital bed to maintain motivation during recovery. Asiri expressed thanks to the medical staff for their dedicated care while voicing optimism about resuming training once her condition permits.
Al Shabab Club announced the injury on October 12, confirming that Asiri had sustained severe damage to her right arm in the airport strike and had been admitted for treatment. Club chairman Abdulaziz Al-Malik visited the athlete alongside Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel to check on her progress and offer assistance during the hospitalization. Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Asiri used the occasion to invite the minister to attend her first tournament after she regains full fitness.
Mahmoud Asiri, the athlete’s father, provided additional comments in the published interview, stating, “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 praised the medical team’s comprehensive efforts and the attention provided to the family throughout the treatment. The family has received broad public messages of support since details of the injury became known.
Saudi authorities linked the October 10 strike on the airport to Houthi forces, with the General Authority of Civil Aviation placing the death toll at least at 12 and the number of wounded above 300 in one of the deadliest incidents in the kingdom in more than a decade. The attack halted operations at King Khalid International Airport, leading to widespread flight diversions and emergency responses that included numerous ambulances at the scene. The Straits Times reported that the strike exposed vulnerabilities in air defenses and affected travelers of multiple nationalities including Saudis and foreign nationals.
Taekwondo Data records show that Asiri has competed in events such as the Arab Cup in Fujairah where she earned a silver medal in the cadets category in 2024 and the World Championships the following year. Her injury has drawn attention to the effects of the attack on civilians returning from sporting events, as noted in coverage by Asharq Al-Awsat. Medical updates from King Fahd Hospital indicate that her treatment plan prioritizes restoring hand function to enable a full return to taekwondo.
