World’s No. 1 in squash speaks to The Gazette
Egyptian squash star Amina Orfi made history last week by becoming the youngest player ever to reach the world’s top ranking.
At 19, Orfi broke a record that had stood untouched for 40 years.
Her sudden rise to the top comes after years of hard work, personal sacrifices, and a deep pride in playing for Egypt.
Orfi’s journey to the top has been built on pure determination and steady success. Before reaching world number one, she became the youngest player ever to win the World Squash Championship in May 2026.
Before joining the professional tour, she also became the only player in squash history to win four World Junior Championships in a row from 2022 to 2025.
Reflecting on her crowning victory at the Qatar Classic, which officially propelled her to the world number one spot, Orfi said her mind-set remained firmly grounded throughout the final.
“I approached the encounter just like any other match in the tournament,” she told The Egyptian Gazette. “I refused to let the weight of the ranking distract myexecution.”
While winning the title itself was thrilling, discovering that the victory secured her the world number one ranking made the moment truly unforgettable.
Orfi revealed that reaching the summit of the sport had been her primary goal since childhood.
She noted that while her focus during individual points was strictly on winning the game at hand, the desire to achieve the top ranking was a dream she had relentlessly pursued for years.
Her initial entry into squash came after exploring multiple sports as a child.
She said she originally practiced swimming and gymnastics, but eventually chose squash because of Egypt’s dominant global presence in the sport.
Orfi candidly admitted that her initial ambition was simply to secure a university scholarship abroad, but as her talent blossomed, she realised her future lay in professional competition on the international stage.
Behind her rapid rise lies a dedicated team and family structure.
“My parents were the cornerstone of my success, constantly believing in my aspirations from the beginning,” Orfi said.
She added that her achievements represent the combined effort of her long-time coaches and early sponsors who recognised her potential when she was just ten years old and supported her development over the years.
Looking ahead, the newly crowned world number one has her sights set on the global stage.
She said she dreams of representing Egypt at the Olympics and claim the gold medal.
Such a victory, she said, would mark a historic milestone as the first-ever Olympic medal awarded in squash.
The upcoming Games will be a landmark moment for the sport itself.
Squash will officially make its debut on the Olympic stage at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, running from July 14 to July 30, 2028, with squash events scheduled from July 15 to July 24.
After decades of advocacy by the international squash community, the sport was formally included in the LA28 programme, marking the very first time squash players will compete for Olympic medals.
These national Olympic ambitions align closely with state-level preparations.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Gohar Nabil, recently metPresident of the Egyptian Squash Federation, Amna El-Tarabulsi, to outline training programmes and athlete preparation plans for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
During the meeting, Nabil confirmed his ministry’s full support for early scientific preparation, noting that squash boasts a premier pool of male and female champions capable of raising Egypt’s flag high on the Olympic stage.
For aspiring young athletes looking to follow in her footsteps, Orfi offered straightforward advice grounded in her own work ethic.
She urged young competitors across all sports to work tirelessly on their skills every single day.
“Without continuous dedication, countless other athletes around the world will work harder and pull ahead,” Orfi said.
