For the first time in history, Egypt’s national team claimed the Wheelchair Handball World Championship, hosted in Cairo at the Hassan Mustafa Indoor Hall from 16-21 September.

In a commanding performance, Egypt defeated the United States in the final, securing a 2-0 victory. The team demonstrated dominance from the outset, leading the first half 6-1 and closing the second half 12-6, marking a milestone achievement for Egyptian and African sports.

The Egyptian roster shone brightly in the final, with standout performances from key players including Magdi Talaat, Mohamed Sweilem, Ahmed Salah, Touba Magdi, and Ayat Ahmed, all contributing significantly to the team’s unprecedented success. Egypt advanced to the final after a decisive 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals.

Under the leadership of Adel Ibrahim, Wael Abdel-Ati, and a skilled coaching and medical staff, the Egyptian team’s meticulous preparation and unity were evident throughout the tournament.

It marked the third edition of the Wheelchair Handball World Championship, with the inaugural tournament also held in Egypt in 2022 when the team earned a silver medal.

A further testament to Egypt’s remarkable success came with Talaat’s crowning as both the top scorer of the tournament and its best player, having netted an extraordinary 72 goals. The feat not only underscored Talaat’s technical prowess but also highlighted Egypt’s growing influence on the international stage of wheelchair handball.

The championship, featuring eight nations, including Brazil, France, Japan and India, saw Brazil secure the bronze medal after defeating France 2-0 in the third-place playoff. Both teams showcased strong performances but Brazil ultimately prevailed, leaving France in fourth place.

Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi celebrated the historic achievement, noting that the victory marks a new chapter in the country’s international sports accomplishments. Sobhi attributed the team’s success to the steadfast support of Egypt’s political leadership which he said, had propelled Egyptian sports to new global heights.

President of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Hassan Mustafa president the trophy to Egypt’s victorious team and lauded their exceptional performance throughout the tournament. Mustafa also commended all the participating nations for their high level of competition, while extending his gratitude to the Egyptian Handball Federation and Minister Sobhi for their exemplary organisation of the event.

President of the Egyptian Handball Federation Mohamed Al-Amin expressed his “immense pride” in the team’s accomplishment, thanking both the coaching staff and players for their dedication. He highlighted the instrumental role of Mustafa who attended every match in the tournament, ensuring its success. Al-Amin also emphasised the significant milestone the victory represented for Egyptian handball.

President of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee (EPC) Hossameddin Mustafa extended his congratulations to the team, recognising the achievement as a “golden opportunity” for Egypt, especially since the tournament was played on home soil. Mustafa expressed his hope for future collaborations between the EPC and the IHF with a view to integrating wheelchair handball into the 2032 Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair handball is handball played by people with varying physical disabilities that prevents them from playing in the able-bodied sport.

It’s played by two teams of six players including one goalkeeper per team. Like regular handball, the aim of each team is to score goals and to prevent the other team from scoring.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 26 September, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly