Nine-year-old Ghasaq Alqahtani, a Saudi sabre fencer, has set her sights on Olympic gold after discovering the sport by watching her older sister train at home. The young athlete from Riyadh has already competed in tournaments across Europe and the Gulf, winning titles in the UK and inspiring more girls to take up fencing in the Kingdom.
From watching to winning
Alqahtani started fencing at age five after observing her sister Antonia Carolina train with their mother, a retired athlete. Initially using a foil, coaches soon recognized her speed and switched her to sabre, the fastest of fencing's three disciplines. In sabre, fencers can score above the waist using both the edge and tip of the blade, unlike foil where touches are limited to the torso. Alqahtani told Arab News: "When I tried (fencing), I fell in love because I like how disciplined it was … how they pushed you to train hard and how fast it was."
Inspired by her sister
Her sister Antonia won national titles in 2023 and competed in Junior World Cup events in 2024, which motivated Alqahtani to follow a similar path. "The thing that inspired me was that my sister actually trained very hard," she said. "And she actually won first place all over Saudi Arabia in 2023. And in 2024, she started to play in Junior World Cup, which got me amazed (and) I thought I could end up like her."
International success
Alqahtani has competed in the UK, Turkiye, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Bahrain. She recalls that overseas competitions are highly competitive, with over 100 athletes in each category. "I have learnt that to be at their same competitive level I need to work much harder every day," she said. A highlight was winning the Leon Paul Junior Series in April 2025, marking the first time a Saudi sabreuse claimed gold in that competition. She later added two more LPJS Series titles in London and Manchester.
Representing Saudi Arabia
Representing her country internationally fills her with pride. "Every time when I go to a competition and I see my flag with other countries' flags, it makes me feel very happy and I feel like I am representing my country very well," she said. Back home, she has noticed more girls taking up fencing as opportunities in women's sport expand across the Kingdom. She encourages others: "I would say give it a try. You never know what will happen."
Olympic dream
Despite her young age, Alqahtani has clear ambitions: "I have two big dreams … to be the youngest Saudi fencer that wins the first place in the Olympics. And to be the youngest fencer to join Saudi team." She added: "Fencing will always be in my life. I enjoy it so much that I will never stop fencing. It has been the best experience I’ve ever had in my life."
