Egypt’s national sitting volleyball team made history by capturing the gold medal at the 2025 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup in Indianapolis in the US — marking the nation’s first world title in the sport’s Paralympic history and a defining moment for Egyptian volleyball on the global stage.
In a thrilling final at the Turnstone Centre, Egypt defeated Brazil 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 25-21), handing the South Americans their only loss of the tournament and completing a remarkable rise from their silver-medal finish on home soil in 2023. The African champions showcased power, precision and resilience, combining strong serves, disciplined blocks and sharp teamwork to dominate the court.
Hisham Al-Shwieh led the scoring with 16 points, followed by Mohamed Abul-Zayed (Aballah) with 14 and Ahmed Mohamed Suleiman (Khamis) with 13. For Brazil, Gustavo Henrique De Jesus tallied 15 points, while Giba added 12.
Egypt’s victory capped off a commanding campaign that included wins over India, Japan, Australia, Croatia, The Netherlands, and Kazakhstan, with their only earlier defeat coming against Brazil — a loss they avenged in spectacular fashion in the final.
Under the guidance of Wagih Hamdi, technical manager of the team, together with Mohamed Basheer as head coach, the Egyptian squad featured captain Hisham Salah, Ashraf Zaghloul, Abdel-Nabi Hassan, Mohamed Al-Hanawi, Hossam Masoud, Al-Sayed Moussa, Ahmed Khamis, Ahmed Fadl, Zakaria Al-Sayed, Matawea Abul-Kheir, Hamada Hassan, and Ahmed Zakaria. They demonstrated exceptional unity and tactical brilliance throughout the tournament.
Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi extended his congratulations to ParaVolley Egypt and the team following their victory. He praised the team’s “heroic” performance and outstanding level of play throughout the tournament.
Sobhi affirmed that this “remarkable achievement reflects the continuous progress of Egypt’s Paralympic sports and the support provided by the Egyptian state to its athletes at all international levels, in line with the directives of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to care for Egypt’s Paralympic champions and provide them with every means to succeed.”
He added the team serves as an inspiring model for Egyptian sport, demonstrating determination, perseverance and the ability to reach the highest global achievements. The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s full commitment to supporting the team as they prepare for future competitions, most notably the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Emad Ramadan, ParaVolley Egypt president, described the win as “a historic milestone and the beginning of a new dream towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games”. He emphasised that Egypt’s triumph not only secured the world title but also earned the nation the top spot in the global rankings for the first time ever. Ramadan added that three Egyptian players received individual awards: Hisham Salah as Best Player, Mohamed Al-Hanawi as Best Setter, and Al-Sayed Moussa as Best Server.
He extended gratitude to President Al-Sisi and Sobhi for their unwavering support, noting that the minister personally addressed the team via video conference before the final to motivate them. Ramadan also praised Samah Salem, head of the delegation, describing him as the “engine of the mission” for his relentless administrative and medical efforts, particularly in treating injured players ahead of the final match.
“This historic achievement,” Ramadan affirmed, “is the result of teamwork, discipline, and the tireless efforts of every member of the Egyptian sitting volleyball family — players, coaches, administrators and supporters.”
“This victory is not the end; it’s the beginning of our journey toward Paralympic gold in Los Angeles 2028. Egypt has shown the world that determination knows no limits.”
Vice President of the ParaVolley Egypt and head of the sitting volleyball delegation Samah Salem expressed his joy at the historic achievement.
Salem emphasised that winning the championship was far from easy, praising the players’ exceptional effort and discipline throughout the tournament. “The team played eight matches in just seven days — including two matches on the same day — which required tremendous physical effort and continuous rehabilitation to help the players recover and prepare for the next day’s games,” Salem explained.
He added that “every member of the Egyptian delegation was a true role model in professionalism and commitment, both technically and ethically. The players showed unwavering spirit and determination to win the title, something I witnessed in every team meeting throughout the competition.”
Salem highlighted that unity across all levels of ParaVolley Egypt was a key factor in achieving the milestone. “We celebrate this shared success together,” he said, affirming that collective cooperation will continue to drive future accomplishments.
Salem affirmed that “the best is yet to come”, revealing that the federation has an ambitious long-term plan that began from day one of taking over. “Its first outcome was winning the African Championship in Kenya last July, followed by this historic World Cup triumph and topping the global rankings. Our journey continues all the way to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games where we aim to secure a fourth Paralympic medal for Egypt.”
Egypt’s sitting volleyball team is regarded as the most successful squad in Egypt’s Olympic and Paralympic history. It remains the only Egyptian team to have claimed three Paralympic medals — in 2004, 2016, and 2024 — along with three World Cup medals in 2006, 2010, and 2023, before being crowned world champions in 2025.
Their remarkable record also includes two Intercontinental Cup medals (2012 and 2016) and an incredible streak of eight consecutive African Championship titles, cementing their status as a true powerhouse of Paralympic sport and a source of national pride for Egypt.
Sitting volleyball is a form of volleyball for athletes with a disability organised by World ParaVolley. As opposed to standing volleyball, sitting volleyball players must sit on the floor to play.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 23 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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