RIYADH, October 7, 2024 - In just five days, Hattan Al-Saif found her passion for boxing, and just one year after in 2022 she became Muay-Thai world champion. She had never practiced sports before, but she felt a magnetic pull to the ring and just last month the 22-year-old Saudi fighter achieved a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
“I chose Muay-Thai because it reveals a part of me that I can only discover when I’m fighting,” she shares.
The attractions of Muay-Thai, such as its diverse tools and body protectors, were an additional motivation for her to try the sport.
She had no prior athletic history, having only briefly dabbled in boxing, but her curiosity drove her forward. She explains, “I didn’t have a motive, but I had curiosity.”
SOCIAL CRITICISM - Hattan grew up with her paternal family after the death of her parents, and at the age of nineteen, she decided to becoming independent, starting to work and live on her own.
However, upon entering the world of Muay-Thai, she faced societal criticism for practicing a sport viewed as predominantly male. She comments, “I fight both inside the ring and outside of it, and I still face challenges on both fronts.”
Hattan describes her relationship with her coach, Firas Al-Saada, as more of a spiritual father than just a coach, as he continually supports and encourages her.
She recalls how Captain Firas urged her to fight with all her strength during the Arab Championship in Abu Dhabi, saying, “If you give up, I won’t be by your side anymore.”
Those words motivated her to return to the ring with all her energy.
ROLE MODEL - Hattan also talks about the Muay-Thai shorts she wore for the first time three years ago, saying, “I feel optimistic when I wear them, and I believe they bring me good luck.”
These shorts were a gift from one of her fans who later became her fiancé, Abdullah Al-Qahtani, who is also an MMA fighter, and she describes him as a great source of inspiration.
Hattan emphasizes that every athlete experiences moments of despair, but having a clear goal makes those moments brief. When discussing her feelings after winning first place in the Saudi Games 2024, she expresses her emotions with tears of joy, enjoying the connection with her fans and taking photos with them.
She prefers to compete in Saudi Arabia, where she feels she represents an entire nation, drawing strength from her supporters.
Among the fans, there was 15-year-old Aseel Sharif, who expressed admiration for her fighting style, while 30-year-old Ilham Ali voiced her support for women’s sports and Hattan’s impact as a role model.
WORLD RECORD - Regarding the impact of fan support, Hattan states, “Having an audience of various ages makes me feel responsible and pushes me to give my best.”
In an interview with Professional Fighters League – Middle East and North Africa (PFL), when asked if she considered retiring to start a family, she replied, “No, I will continue to fight until I achieve something that makes the world know my name.”
Shortly after those statements on September 2024, Hattan achieved the fastest knockout in the (PFL), finishing the match in just 41 seconds. And set a new World Record. She notes that her joy came from the happiness of her coach and team, considering the effort to be a collective one rather than individual.
Training is considered half of her life, and she sacrifices many occasions and relationships for the sport. Hattan aspires to achieve more and aims for a comfortable retirement when the time comes. Although Muay-Thai is not included in the Olympics, she hopes to win a gold medal someday, believing that everything is subject to change.
Hattan concludes by affirming that her role model is herself, learning from her successes and failures, and she admits to having a great passion for other sports, such as car racing, had she not been practicing Muay-Thai.
