Mumbai: To compete at the Olympics, an athlete like me must achieve a ranking of world No. 1 or 2.

Karim El Hammamy currently holds the position of world No. 48 in professional squash rankings. In many countries, this ranking would typically qualify an athlete for the limited slots available for squash's inaugural appearance at the 2028 LA Olympics. However, this is not the case in Egypt.

“I’d prefer to be anywhere else,” El Hammamy remarked with a laugh.

The top two male and three female squash players in the world are currently from Egypt. The nation boasts five men and five women in the top 10 rankings. Egypt has also claimed victory in the last four World Team Championships for both genders.

Before Peruvian Diego Elias interrupted world No. 1 Ali Farag’s streak of individual men’s gold medals at the 2024 World Championships, the last non-Egyptian to win that title did so a decade ago. Since Nicol David's win in 2014, every women’s world title has been secured by an Egyptian player.

This nation, known for its pyramids and a long-standing legacy in elite squash, continues to assert its dominance in the sport today. What factors contribute to Egypt's prominent position in the global squash arena, despite its population of just over 110 million?

While there is a historical context and an element of intrigue, the key lies in a strong junior development system that consistently produces exceptional talent.

Squash was introduced to Egypt by British soldiers over 150 years ago in Cairo, and the sport has been enriched by Egyptian players since the mid-1990s, with multiple British Open champions such as Amr Bey (1930s), Mahmoud Karim (1940s), and AA AbouTaleb (1960s).

A pivotal moment in the rise of squash in Egypt occurred in 1996 when a glass-court tournament took place near the Pyramids of Giza, featuring local talent Ahmed Barada in the finals.

“Everyone aspired to play on that court one day,” remarked Omar Mosaad, a former world No. 3, now 37 years old. “My generation was particularly inspired by it and eager to take up squash.”

This enthusiasm significantly contributed to the sport's growing popularity. “If you want to pursue an individual sport in Egypt and make a living from it, squash is the way to go,” stated El Hammamy.

At 29, El Hammamy, a member of Egypt’s victorious 2023 World Cup team, along with Mosaad, the silver medallist from the 2015 World Championships, are currently in Mumbai for the JSW Indian Open. They are joined in this PSA Copper event by a number of young Egyptian players in their teens and early twenties.

“Our squash scene remains robust due to a large junior base,” El Hammamy noted.

This junior base is not only extensive but also exceptional. At the recent British Junior Open, nearly all winners from the U-11 to U-19 categories hailed from Egypt, with the exception of India’s U-17 champion, Anahat Singh.

Robust junior foundation

Indian professional Saurav Ghosal likens the prominence of squash in Egypt to that of cricket in India.

“In India, we have around 850-900 participants in the junior nationals, which is a significant increase from my junior days. Egypt can achieve that number in just one club,” Ghosal explained.

This abundance of talent benefits from a well-developed infrastructure. Mosaad indicated that most Egyptian professionals originate from Cairo, where there is a wealth of squash courts all within a half-hour drive.

“It’s hard to keep track!” El Hammamy exclaimed when asked about the number of courts. “There are hundreds of courts, thousands of juniors, and numerous professionals.”

Mosaad’s club in Cairo features 16 standard courts and one glass court, all of which are consistently busy. “It’s always full,” he stated.

“There’s a club called Black Ball,” Ghosal added. “They have 18 courts, and it’s impossible to book a court there from 3 PM to midnight. Each court is assigned a coach.”

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