CAIRO — Egypt capped a dominant campaign at the 2025 Arab U-12 Tennis Championship by securing the overall title in both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
The tournament, hosted in Cairo from June 22 to 26, brought together rising talents from seven Arab nations under the auspices of the Arab Tennis Federation, led by Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and organiaed by the Egyptian Tennis Federation, chaired by Captain Ismail El-Shafei.
Egypt’s dominance was evident across both divisions. In the boys’ event, Egypt Team A claimed the gold medal, while Egypt Team B took silver. Tunisia finished third, followed by Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Algeria, Bahrain, and Iraq.
In the girls’ tournament, Egypt Team A secured the top spot, with Tunisia earning silver and Egypt Team B taking the bronze. Algeria and Lebanon rounded out the competition.
Egypt’s young athletes showcased outstanding performances throughout the event, topping the podium in both divisions and underlining the nation’s continued investment in youth development.
The closing ceremony, attended by officials from both the Arab and Egyptian Tennis Federations as well as heads of delegations, celebrated the tournament’s success with the presentation of trophies and medals to the top three finishers, along with commemorative medals for all participants—recognizing the importance of fostering talent at the grassroots level.
A highlight of the evening included the exchange of commemorative shields. Ayman Azmy, Vice President of the Arab and Egyptian Tennis Federations, presented the Egyptian Federation’s shield to Engineer Ali Al-Mutairi, Secretary General of the Arab Federation, and Dr. Awad al-Aqeeli of the Saudi Federation’s Board of Directors.
In his remarks, Al-Mutairi praised the Egyptian Federation’s efforts in organizing a successful championship despite logistical challenges stemming from airspace closures in some countries.
Engineer Walid Sami, Secretary General of both federations, lauded the high competitive level of the event and reaffirmed the Arab Federation’s commitment to nurturing future tennis stars in this critical age group.
Mayar climbs world rankings
Egypt’s top-ranked tennis player Mayar Sherif moved up two places in the latest WTA rankings, climbing from No. 88 to No. 86, following her recent success on the international circuit.
The rise comes on the heels of her impressive title win at the Parma Italian Open on May 17, where she claimed her second crown at the event by defeating Canada’s Victoria Mboko in straight sets.
Despite her upward momentum, Sherif’s campaign at Roland Garros ended in the opening round. She was defeated by Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova, the world No. 19, in a tightly contested match that lasted one hour and 48 minutes.
Sherif’s continued rise in the rankings and recent title win reinforce her status as one of Egypt’s leading hopes in international tennis.
