{
  "id": 14212109,
  "title": "Saudi taekwondo star Sabah Asiri injured in Houthi attack on Riyadh airport vows comeback",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/saudi-taekwondo-star-sabah-asiri-injured-in-houthi-attack-on-riyadh",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T13:06:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/665377/saudi-arabia/saudi-taekwondo-star-sabah-asiri-injured-in-houthi-attack-on-riyadh-airport-vows-comeback"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Riyadh — Saudi taekwondo star Sabah Asiri, who recently won a gold medal, has vowed to return to competition after enduring a severe hand injury during a Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport. Asiri, representing both the Saudi national team and Al Shabab Club, detailed the harrowing moments of the incident in an interview with the Saudi Ministry of Health.Asiri was preparing to board a flight to Jeddah with her father when the airport erupted into chaos. Discovering her hand had been injured and her phone missing, she described feeling shock and fear as passengers fled the scene. Initially bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Asiri joined the evacuation efforts and was later hospitalized at King Fahd Hospital for surgery to repair fractured bones and close her wounds.In addition to the initial surgery, the athlete faces two more operations as part of her recovery process. Despite the gravity of her injuries, Asiri expressed unwavering determination to return to taekwondo as soon as her medical condition permits.The attack occurred shortly after Asiri had claimed victory in a qualifying competition for the Minister's Cup, making her journey home following the event particularly poignant. She and her father were en route to Jeddah when the airport was targeted.The Saudi athlete has a storied career, having represented the Kingdom in numerous international, Gulf, and Arab competitions, including the Gulf Games, where she earned a silver medal. She has also competed in the Arab Cup in Fujairah and amassed multiple medals throughout her tenure with the Saudi national team.Asiri's previous accomplishments serve as a wellspring of motivation as she navigates the challenges of rehabilitation and recovery. She expressed gratitude to the medical team at King Fahd Hospital for their extensive care and attention since her admission.Her father, Mahmoud Asiri, echoed his daughter's sentiments, praising the hospital staff and Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel for their unwavering support. He emphasized the family's comprehensive treatment throughout the recovery process.Asiri remains resolute in her pursuit of representing Saudi Arabia once more on the international stage. She reiterated her team's indomitable spirit, stating, \"We Saudis always have high ambitions, and nothing can break us.\"",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "Delta delays first-ever direct US to Saudi Arabia flights after airport missile strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/delta-delays-first-ever-direct-us-to-saudi-arabia-flights-after",
        "published": "2026-10-13T13:08:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Saudi Gazette",
        "title": "Egypt ready to provide Saudi Arabia with military assistance, foreign minister says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/egypt-ready-to-provide-saudi-arabia-with-military-assistance-foreign",
        "published": "2026-10-13T14:16:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Houthis threaten Saudi Arabia’s Aramco facilities and airports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/houthis-threaten-saudi-arabias-aramco-facilities-and-airports",
        "published": "2026-10-13T15:01:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia's military struggle against Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/saudi-arabias-military-struggle-against-houthi-attacks",
        "published": "2026-10-13T16:11:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Why Saudi Arabia has struggled to defend itself against the Houthis’ recent attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/why-saudi-arabia-has-struggled-to-defend-itself-against-the-houthis",
        "published": "2026-10-13T16:44:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}