Egypt’s weightlifters and fencers were the talk of town this week as they stood on the podium to receive world and continental medals.
In the 2022 Youth World Weightlifting Championship, Egypt finished third with 14 medals: six gold, five silver, and three bronze. The young Pharaohs were beaten by Kazakhstan which topped the 19-nation table with 21 medals — 12 gold, three silver and six bronze. Colombia were second with 19 medals, including 10 gold.
Most medals were won by women, with Rahma Al-Sayed claiming three gold medals in the snatch, clean and jerk and the total in the 76 kg category. Nora Essam won three silvers in the snatch, clean and jerk and the total in the 55 kg category, while Hanin Al-Sayed claimed only two silver medals in the clean and jerk and total in the 59 kg category. Shams Ahmed clinched three bronze in the snatch, clean and jerk and total in 81 kg. With 11 medals, the Egyptian women came second out of 33 nations behind Turkey.
In the men’s, only one Egyptian triumphed, Mahmoud Hassan who collected three gold medals in the snatch, clean and jerk and total in the 89 kg category. Hassan took Egypt to 13th place out of 27.
Altogether 195 competitors from 37 nations took part in the World Championship held in Leon, Mexico, from 11 to 18 June.
Meanwhile, on the continental level, Egyptian fencers enjoyed a clean sweep at the African Fencing Championship held in Casablanca, Morocco, from 15 to 19 June.
Egypt’s men and women dominated, clinching the top of the standings with 21 medals: eight gold, six silver, and seven bronze. Algeria came second with two gold, two silver, and four bronze, whereas Tunisia ended a distant third with two gold, a silver, and two bronze.
In the men’s epee, Mohamed Al-Sayed claimed the gold after beating his countryman Ahmed Al-Sokari in the final. The Egyptian men’s team, comprising Mohamed Al-Sayed, Al-Sokari, Ahmed Al-Sayed, and Mohamed Yassin also won the gold medal after beating hosts Morocco in the final.
In the women’s epee, Egyptians were led by Nardine Ihab who beat her teammate Sherwet Gaber for the gold medal. Gaber claimed the silver, while Aya Hussein collected the bronze. Like the men’s, the Egyptian women comprising Ihab, Gaber, Hussein, and Mennatallah Hani also beat the hosts for the team gold medal.
The gold medal in the foil event was won by the 2012 London Olympic Games silver medalist Alaa Al-Sayed after beating his compatriot Mohamed Hamza. The bronze medal went to a third Egyptian, Mohamed Hassan. The men’s foil team also snared the gold medal after beating Algeria in the final.
Nora Mounir clinched the gold medal in the women’s foil event after defeating Morocco’s Yosra Zahrani, whereas the bronze medals went to Egypt’s Yara Al-Sharkawi and Noha Hani. The Egyptian women’s team, including Al-Sharkawi, Hani, Mounir and Mariam Al-Zoheiri, also won the gold medal in the foil’s team event after overcoming Algeria.
In the sabre event, Egyptian fencers Medhat Moetaz and Mohamed Amer captured the silver and bronze medals, respectively. In the team event the Egyptian squad of Moetaz, Amer, Ziad Al-Sisi, and Adham Moetaz bagged the silver medal after losing to Tunisia.
Nada Hafez and Mariam Degheidi both won the silver and bronze medals of the women’s sabre event. The Egyptian team of Hafez, Degheidi, Zeina Saleh, and Sara Shoman grabbed the bronze medal after losing to Tunisia. Algeria won the event’s gold.
A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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