The Saudi Arabia Sports Awards were held in conjunction with the SOPC General Assembly ©SOPC

Karateka Sanad Sufyani has been named Saudi Arabia's male sportsperson of the year while taekwondo athlete Donia Abu Talib won the female sportsperson award as the Saudi Arabia Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) celebrated a successful year of sport.

The athletes were honoured as the SOPC held a General Assembly and awards ceremony at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh.

Sufyani won gold in the over +84 kilograms Kumite category at the World Under-21 Karate Championships in Korma, Turkey.

Rally driver Yazid Al-Rajhi was also recognised for his win in the Italian Baja last July and a third place in the 2022 Saudi Dakar Rally.

Abu Talib's bronze medal in the flyweight category at the World Taekwondo Championships in Guadalajara was the first global medal by a Saudi Arabian woman in the sport.

Coach of the Year went to Corbin Boukadaf who had prepared her for the competition.

The Women’s Sports Award was won by Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) executive Lamia Al-Bahyan in recognition of her role in launching the country's women’s football league.

There was also an award for national women's coach Monika Staab.

Saudi Arabian Football Federation women's director Lamia Al-Bahyan was recognised for her efforts in launching the Saudi women's league ©ITG
Saudi Arabian Football Federation women's director Lamia Al-Bahyan was recognised for her efforts in launching the Saudi women's league ©ITG

Former SAFF President Ahmed Bin Eid Al-Harbi received the Olympic Excellence Award in recognition of his service to Saudi Arabian sport. 

It came only a few months after a national holiday was declared to mark the Saudi Arabian men’s football team’s stunning victory over future world champions Argentina in the group stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The award for Best Paralympic Athlete went to Abdul Rahman Al-Qurashi, who won three gold medals at 100 metres, 200m and 400m at the West Asian Paralympic Games in Bahrain.

Boccia player Lujain Al-Thaqafi, won the Women's Para Award for her part in winning gold at the West Asian Para Games in Bahrain.

Fencer Hussein Al-Taweel's gold medal in the Asian Junior Championship earned him the Most Promising Athlete award.

Hattan Al-Saif won the bronze medal at the World Muaythai Championship and gold in the Saudi Games, to be chosen as Most Promising Female Athlete.

The formal contract for the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships, due to be held in Riyadh, was signed during the General Assembly ©SOPC
The formal contract for the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships, due to be held in Riyadh, was signed during the General Assembly ©SOPC

Para weightlifter Adnan Nour Saeed won four gold medals at the Asia/Oceania Championships and was named Most Promising Para Athlete.

The Saudi Marathon, which attracted over 10,000 runners, was voted Sports Event of the Year.

The successful bid for the 2029 Asian Winter Games was also recognised with an exceptional award for Neom which saluted the "tremendous and prosperous cooperation."

The Saudi Equestrian Federation received the award for the Best Sports Federation after it was evaluated for technical and operational excellence.

Meanwhile, the formal contract for the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships was signed by International Weightlifting Federation President Muhammad Al-Jaloud Al-Shammari and Saudi Weightlifting Federation President Muhammad Al-Harbi.

The event is scheduled to begin in Riyadh on September 2.