Saudi champion Mariam Al-Muraiseel has etched her name in gold in the annals of international sports, achieving an unprecedented global milestone for Saudi women's sports by securing the second-highest world ranking in Paralympic table tennis (Class 1). This achievement underscores the strong presence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the international stage and demonstrates the rapid development of Saudi sports across all disciplines.
A qualitative leap for Saudi sports in line with Vision 2030
This achievement is no coincidence; it is a true reflection of the radical transformations taking place in the Kingdom's sports sector under the umbrella of "Saudi Vision 2030." Recent years have witnessed a growing focus on empowering women in sports, in addition to exceptional attention given to Paralympic sports. Al-Muraisel's achievement of second place in the world championships highlights the success of national strategies aimed at developing Olympic and Paralympic champions capable of competing and winning gold in major international competitions.
Government support and continuous monitoring
This advanced ranking is a result of the generous support provided by the wise leadership to the sports sector and the official attention given to developing Paralympic sports. This support has been manifested through the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, with direct and continuous follow-up from His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sport, and his deputy, His Royal Highness Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed. Their empowerment and provision of all necessary material and logistical resources have had a profound impact on overcoming obstacles for Saudi athletes to reach the podiums of international competitions.
Unstoppable strategic planning and ambition
On the technical and administrative planning front, the Saudi Table Tennis Federation, under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, played a pivotal role in creating a suitable professional environment. The Federation's strategic plans focused on developing technical staff and organizing domestic and international training camps, which provided a strong incentive for players to achieve their goals and raise the Saudi flag high.
Al-Muraisel: Ambition is the lead
Commenting on this achievement, star Mariam Al-Muraiseel emphasized that reaching the world number two ranking is not the end goal, but rather motivation and fuel for even greater effort in intensive training. She expressed her determination to actively participate in upcoming international training camps and tournaments, setting her sights on one goal: to claim the top spot in the world rankings in the near future.
Al-Muraisel concluded her speech by expressing her thanks and appreciation to the Saudi Table Tennis Federation and its board of directors, and she especially thanked the technical staff led by Captain Hossam Al-Shuwairi and his assistant Captain Zahra, praising the technical and psychological support they provided, which had a great impact on her triumphant sports career.
