Egyptian wrestler Mostafa Hussein secured a major victory for Egyptian sports late last month when he won the U23 World Wrestling Championship which was held in the US.
Hussein took home the gold medal after defeating Hungary’s Levi 5–2 in the final match of the 77kg Greco-Roman weight class.
Having dominated matches throughout the tournament, this budding wrestler started strong with a clear 10–2 win against his Norwegian opponent before beating Russia’s Ruslan Nurilaev in the quarterfinals by technical superiority.
In the semi-finals, Hussein swept Ukraine’s Irfan Mirzoev 9–0 to book his spot in the final match.
Now, he has time to reflect on his victory, something he did not know how to celebrate when he made it.
The road to gold, he said, was not easy, especially with tough challenges popping up before the matches started.
“Landing in the US just a few days before the tournament threw off my sleep schedule and focus,” Hussien told The Egyptian Gazette.
“Sticking to the strategy of the matches while dealing with jet lag took a lot of mental strength, but everything worked out on the mat thanks to hard work and faith,” he added.
Hussien is certain that staying focused during these intense bouts was a true blessing from God.
“God helped me stay calm and focused throughout the tournament,” Hussein said. “I prayed constantly to return home to Egypt with the championship belt.”
He considers his mother to be his staunchest fan and strongest supporter. So were his coaches Ibrahim Nasser and Kamal Abdo who were by his side to encourage him right from the start.
Hussein said his coaches’ continuous trust in his abilities laid the main foundation for his success at the world level. He also feels indebted to the organisations and sponsors behind his progress as a world-class athlete.
National sports bodies and corporate partners, he said, stood by him and believed in his ability.
“I was relieved to meet their expectations,” Hussein said.
When he returned to Egypt from the tournament, Hussein was given a hero’s welcome at Cairo International Airport where Minister of Youth and Sports, Gohar Nabil, was keen to be personally present.
Minister Nabil praised Hussein’s victory as a great example of the growth in Egyptian sports.
“The government remains fully committed to backing sports federations and top athletes through complete training and sponsorship programmes,” the minister said.
“Hussein’s win comes from proper planning and hard work,” he added, noting that the government would keep supporting its champions to inspire young Egyptians across the nation.
This fills athletes like Hussein with hope. He said his personal goals do not stop at the new world title.
Hussein’s next big dream is to win an Olympic gold medal for Egypt. He treats this U23 world championship as the first major step towards Olympic glory.
He advised young athletes to stay faithful and work hard. These athletes, he said, need to do their best rather than worry about results.
Hussein liked to dedicate his medal to Egyptian fans, thanking them for their continuous support and assuring everybody that his new title would not be the end of his journey, but just the beginning.
“I promise everyone who cheered for me that I will give my all in every future tournament to bring even more success to Egyptian sports,” Hussien said.
