![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/00d6275e-32ed-4f5e-ac3f-b0738a0133f8.jpeg\")
Saudi boxer Yara Al-Amri (right) lands a punch during a bout at the Asian Elite Championships in Bangkok, where she made history as the first Saudi woman to win an Asian medal. (SUPPLIED)<\/p>\n
\n\tRIYADH: The end of 2024 will always hold special memories for Yara Al-Amri. In December last year the young boxer made history by becoming the first Saudi woman to win an Asian medal in boxing \u2014 a new milestone for the Kingdom\u2019s fast-growing women\u2019s sports scene.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe 21-year-old fighter earned a bronze medal at the Asian Elite Championships in Bangkok, competing in the 52-kilogram category in her first international appearance.<\/p>\n
\n\tShe told Arab News: \u201cIt was my first international appearance, which was the toughest part \u2014 competing outside my country without my home crowd and coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe win was historic not only for Al-Amri, but for Saudi sport. \u201cThis changed my life, as I wrote history for Saudi Arabia by winning the first Asian medal in women\u2019s boxing,\u201d she said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t have champions, but the sport is still new in our country. Despite starting later than many nations, we quickly reached their level and proved we can compete and succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tBased in Riyadh, Al-Amri trains under Ali Al-Ahmari at Al-Shabab Club. Standing 174 cm tall, the right-handed orthodox fighter has built a record of 27 fights, with 23 wins and four losses, and holds seven Saudi national titles.<\/p>\n
\n\tHer path into boxing began unexpectedly. \u201cI first started boxing as a fitness exercise, but soon felt I truly belonged in the sport,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve always loved challenge and competition, and boxing gave me exactly that. In the ring, it\u2019s just me, my mind, and my hands. Boxing completely changed my lifestyle, making me more disciplined and committed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAl-Amri describes the sport as a test of focus as much as strength. \u201cYou have to be patient, strategic, and intelligent. Every movement matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saudi boxer Yara Al-Amri (right) lands a punch during a bout at the Asian Elite Championships in Bangkok, where she made history as the first Saudi woman to win an Asian medal. (SUPPLIED)<\/p>\n
\n\tOutside the ring, Al-Amri is pursuing a university degree, juggling training sessions and academic deadlines.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAs a university student, my days are always a challenge,\u201d she said. \u201cI train twice a day \u2014 morning and evening \u2014 while balancing my classes, studies, and daily tasks. My schedule is packed, but I make sure to manage both my academic and athletic commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tHer discipline extends beyond boxing. Earlier this year, she completed the Riyadh Half Marathon, describing the 21-kilometer run as \u201cpure challenge and joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAfter nearly 30 fights, Al-Amri has learned to embrace both victory and loss. \u201cThe biggest lesson I learned from a loss is never leaving the result to the judges,\u201d she said. \u201cThe fight must be clear \u2014 you have to showcase your skills so strongly that there\u2019s no doubt.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cInjuries and defeats also taught me resilience,\u201d she added. \u201cI always say: \u2018What doesn\u2019t kill you makes you stronger.\u2019 Before a fight, I\u2019ve learned to control nerves and pressure. It\u2019s natural to feel it, but once I step into the ring, everything switches off \u2014 I focus only on my opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAl-Amri credits her success to the support around her. \u201cMy family has been my first and strongest supporters, from the beginning until today. Their belief in me gave me strength,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\n\tShe also praised the institutions enabling women\u2019s boxing to grow. \u201cI deeply value the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia \u2014 from our wise leadership to the ministry of sports, the Olympic Committee, the Saudi Boxing Federation, clubs, coaches, and the people. This collective support has been a huge force behind my journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThat system, she said, has helped turn a once niche pursuit into a recognized sport for Saudi women.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMy goal is to achieve as many titles as possible \u2014 national, regional, continental, and international,\u201d Al-Amri said. \u201cWith God\u2019s will, these achievements will come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tShe believes the next generation of Saudi women boxers will go even further. \u201cWomen\u2019s boxing in Saudi Arabia has developed tremendously,\u201d she said. \u201cClubs and coaches are now available across the country, teams are formed, and the determination of Saudi women is stronger than ever. We are capable of competing, representing, and making the sport grow even bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tIn only two years, Al-Amri has collected nine gold medals, seven national titles and two bronzes, combining athletic performance with academic success and public recognition.<\/p>\n
\n\tHer rapid rise mirrors Saudi Arabia\u2019s broader transformation under Vision 2030, which continues to expand opportunities for women in professional sports, from football and judo to boxing and beyond.<\/p>\n
\n\tAl-Amri said her journey shows what happens when opportunity meets belief. \u201cBoxing gave me strength and purpose,\u201d she said. \u201cIt made me realize that nothing is impossible when you work hard, stay disciplined, and believe in yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAs she continues to train for upcoming championships and sets her sights on future world competitions, Al-Amri\u2019s mission is simple: to raise Saudi Arabia\u2019s flag on the global stage.<\/p>\n
\n\tFrom her first punch in a Riyadh gym to her medal podium in Bangkok, Yara Al-Amri\u2019s story is one of faith, perseverance, and proof that Saudi women are not just entering the ring, they are redefining it.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"RIYADH: The end of 2024 will always hold special memories for Yara Al-Amri. In December last year the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":214752,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-214751","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-boxing","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214751\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}