The medals may be new, but the story remains the same. Egypt’s junior men’s and women’s teams once again proved why the country remains the world’s leading squash nation by winning both titles at the 2026 World Team Championships in Canada.
The double triumph was about more than adding two more trophies to an already remarkable collection. It underlined the strength of Egypt’s winning culture and its ability to produce world champions, generation after generation.
While the names on the team sheet may change, the outcome rarely does. Another generation of young players has stepped forward to keep the country at the top of world squash.
The junior men’s team secured their fourth consecutive world title and the ninth in the country’s history, while the junior women’s team claimed a record-extending 13th crown to reinforce Egypt’s long-standing dominance of the sport.
Road to glory
The junior men’s team booked their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over France before defeating the United States by the same score to retain their world title.
Mohamed Zakaria, Saif El-Din El-Refaey, Adam Hawal and Marwan Asal impressed throughout the tournament with a series of confident performances.
The junior women’s team also enjoyed a commanding run, beating the United States 2-0 in the semi-finals before overcoming Malaysia by the same score in the final.
Malika Taymour, Habiba Rizk, Roqaya Salem and Barb Sameh played key roles as Egypt successfully defended the title with another composed team performance.
The results also showed the strength of Egypt’s development system, which continues to produce top players and keep the country among the best in the sport.
Individual success
Egypt’s success extended beyond the team events, with the national squad collecting seven medals in the individual competition: one gold, two silver and four bronze.
Zakaria claimed the gold medal, while Hawal and Salem took silver. Asal, El-Refaey, Taymour and Sameh completed the medal haul with bronze, underlining the depth of Egyptian talent across both the men’s and women’s events.
Official praise
Minister of Youth and Sports Gohar Nabil congratulated the Egyptian Squash Federation, the coaching and support staff, and both national teams on their achievements.
He praised the players’ technical quality, determination and fighting spirit throughout the championships, describing the double success as further proof of Egypt’s leadership in world squash.
Next generation
Egypt’s junior men’s team featured 18-year-old Mohamed Zakaria, Saif El-Din El-Refaey (18), Adam Hawal (17) and Marwan Asal (18), a talented group that underlined the bright future of Egyptian squash.
The quartet impressed throughout the championships, producing consistently strong performances in both the individual and team events to play a key role in Egypt’s title-winning campaign.
The junior women’s team was made up of Malika Taymour, Roqaya Salem, Barb Sameh and Habiba Rizk. The four players produced a series of confident displays to guide Egypt to the final before successfully defending the world title.
Winning tradition
As the World Championships came to a close in Canada, Egypt once again confirmed its place at the top of world squash.
With a new generation of players already making an impact, the team looks well placed to stay among the sport’s leading nations for years to come.
