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The Rise Of Egypt

In May 1996, beneath the Pyramids of Giza, squash changed forever.

The first Al-Ahram International brought the sport to one of the most iconic locations on earth, transforming a traditionally enclosed, club-based game into a global spectacle.

Driven by the vision of Al-Ahram editor-in-chief Ibrahim Hegazy, supported by President Hosni Mubarak and carried by the emergence of Ahmed Barada – a singular convergence of politics, media and sporting charisma – the tournament marked the beginning of Egypt’s extraordinary rise from respected outsider to squash’s dominant superpower.

Barada’s run beneath the Pyramids turned him into a national icon and inspired a generation of young Egyptians to believe the sport belonged to them.

What followed was the creation of one of the most successful sporting ecosystems in modern history. Egypt’s junior system exploded with participation. Clubs became talent factories. Coaches and former champions passed knowledge through generations.

This series explores the story of Egypt’s squash revolution in depth: the origins of the game in Egypt, the political and cultural forces that shaped it, the pioneering figures who built the foundations, the rise of the women’s game, the mythology of the Pyramids, and the generations of players who turned inspiration into sustained dominance and remade the sport in their own image.