ALKHOBAR: For Rahaf Alshammari, taekwondo began long before she entered a club or competed for a medal.
Growing up, the Saudi Arabia athlete and her sisters were introduced to the sport by their father, a black belt who turned taekwondo techniques into a childhood game they called wrestling.
Years later, an Instagram post would bring the sisters back to the sport.
“My sisters and I saw an advertisement on Instagram in 2020, but our love for the sport started when we were children because of my father,” Alshammari, 25, told Arab News.
After the COVID-19 lockdown, they began training under coach Abrar Bukhari, who quickly recognized their potential and encouraged them to compete. Alshammari went on to take part in the first Saudi women’s taekwondo championship at national level.
