RIYADH: In a fresh development to boost female sports, Saudi Arabia hosted its first marathon for women on Saturday.
According to Arab media, Interestingly, as many as 1,500 women participated in the first-ever marathon, while those who signed up were around 2,000, a much higher than expected number that forced organisers to stop accepting participants. Most of the participants dressed in traditional Islamic attire, raced in eastern Al-Ahsa region at Weekend.
Mizna Al Nassar, the winner of the first women’s marathon in Saudi was reported to have said that she was looking forward to representing her country at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, adding that she had been fully support by her family and there were no obstacles to participate in track competitions.
After representing the kingdom at the Islamic solidarity games and the Arab games, she now wanted to participate at the Olympics.
Last month, Saudi officials announced that women will be allowed to take part in the Riyadh international marathon next year.
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