Al-Marsad newspaper: A report prepared by Al-Arabiya channel sheds light on the story of Al-Anoud Al-Qahtani, the first Saudi female basketball player to experience external professionalism.
The report indicated: “A young Saudi woman is experiencing external professionalism for the first time in the world of basketball. Al-Anoud Al-Qahtani is a Saudi player who was attracted by the Bahraini Bapco team after she fought with her former team Titanium in a Gulf championship in which she won the award for the best player in the tournament.”
Al-Qahtani said: “We were invited to participate in the Bahraini championship with my titanium team, and I took the best player, and the team manager, Nadia Hajji, contacted me and convinced me.”
The report noted: “In her early days with her new team, Al-Anoud won the 2022 Bahrain Women’s League title.”
Al-Qahtani sent a message to Saudi girls, saying: “I tell Saudi girls that I am the first professional player, and this indicates that we have many talents, and this is proof that we can become more professional in the future in all fields, not just basketball.”
And the report added: “The Bahraini Bapco team was founded in 2012 and managed in a few years to be one of the best Gulf teams, achieving several local and regional championships.”
While Nadia Hajji, an administrator for the Bapco women’s team, said: “We chose Al-Anoud Al-Qahtani from the Saudi Titanium team, and he had other choices, but we insisted that we are a prophet to encourage Gulf girls.”
The report concluded: “The Bahrain Basketball Association holds women’s competitions annually, in addition to other events for the women’s side, most notably the tri-basketball.”