Saudi Arabia's Hattan Alsaif on how Muaythai helped her overcome loss and depression

Hattan Alsaif is not like most 21-year-old women in Saudi Arabia.

For starters, she is the first Saudi female to win a gold medal in Muaythai, a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques, at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations World in Bangkok earlier this year.

“This was something unheard of,” she tells The National of her victory over Individual Neutral Athlete Elizaveta Zavarzina in the Under-23 female division final to clinch gold. “Even for my family as it is not something common in our culture.”

Secondly, she openly talks about her battle with depression and thoughts of suicide.

“My past and things had never been easy for me … up until Muaythai,” she adds.

Events in Alsaif's past has both hardened her resolve to succeed and left her permanently scarred. She was orphaned as a child after the death of her parents and raised by her grandmother. Her will to succeed is an inspiration for those suffering with family loss and mental health problems.

“I want people who are suffering and have thought of ending their lives to know never to lose hope, to try to smile and never try to end their lives. I know how they feel and how they're suffering,” she says.

Alsaif credits physical exercise with helping her through her struggles. “I always liked a physical activity like dancing, running – anything that can make me move and make me feel free was what I wanted,” says the King Saud University graduate.

Alsaif started boxing training at her local gym in Riyadh and soon became interested in Muaythai. She recalls watching male practitioners for the first time, saying: “I was so inspired by them. Up until then I was only boxing. I asked my coach [if I could join], and his