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Sitting volleyball showdown - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly
The ParaVolley Africa Zonals finished up with the Egyptian men's team winning the championship.
The team showed why they are a Paralympic medaling team, as they did not drop a set all competition. The final saw Egypt face off against Rwanda – who themselves dropped only one set in all the tournament. Egypt came out on top with a 25-21, 25-13, 25-20 victory for the gold medal, but both teams earned the PVA berths at the 2026 World Championships for finishing first and second. In the bronze match, Algeria defeated Morocco in straight sets, 25-18, 27-25, 25-12.
Egypt was crowned champions of the African Championship after a commanding 3-0 win over Rwanda in the final match of the tournament held in Kenya. The championship also serves as a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup in China.
Egypt claimed the title with undeniable merit. They began their campaign with a 3-0 win over South Africa, followed by another 3-0 victory against Morocco. In the semi-final, the team maintained their dominance with a clean sweep of Algeria, securing a spot in the final and ultimately achieving the gold medal.
With the victory, Egypt successfully defended its continental title, continuing a legacy of dominance in sitting volleyball across Africa since the tournament's inception.
Emad Ramadan, president of the Egyptian Paralympic Volleyball Federation and head of the delegation, played a pivotal and positive role in the team's impressive showing. His leadership and experience were instrumental in guiding the squad to a well-deserved championship.
Ramadan dedicated the win to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Ashraf Sobhi, minister of youth and sports, and to the Egyptian people. He emphasised that Egyptian sports are witnessing a golden era under the exceptional support of President Al-Sisi.
The Egyptian squad included Hesham Salaheddin as team captain, along with Ashraf Zaghloul, Abdel-Nabi Hassan, Mohamed Al-Hennawi, Hossam Massoud, Al-Sayed Moussa, Ahmed Khamis, Ahmed Fadl, Zakaria Al-Sayed, Hamada Al-Sayed, Ahmed Zakaria, and Mohamed Hamdi.
The team was led by a dedicated technical staff comprised of Mohamed Bashir as head coach, Mohamed Saad as coach, and Amin Abdel-Moneim as team manager.
Egypt's preparation for the tournament was both intensive and strategic, drawing from the valuable experience gained in previous competitions. Notably, the team had also won the last African Championship held in Nigeria, where they defeated Morocco 3-0 in the final.
The coaching team has been praised for its dynamic leadership, which focuses on continuous player development through rigorous training sessions and friendly matches. The national team's roster reflects a healthy balance of experienced veterans and promising young talent, positioning Egypt as a formidable contender in upcoming continental and global tournaments.
Ramadan met German Juergen Schrapp, president of the World ParaVolley Federation, on the sidelines of the championship.
During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to initiate a cooperative partnership between the International Federation and the Egyptian Sitting Volleyball Federation, with the goal of positioning Egypt as the leading force in developing sitting volleyball across Africa.
Schrapp, a former sitting volleyball player and captain of the German national team, shares a longstanding friendship with Ramadan, dating back over 20 years.
Egypt competed in Group B, alongside South Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria, while Group A included Kenya, Rwanda and Algeria.
The team was determined to defend its continental title, which it has held since the championship's inception. Under the leadership of Ramadan, the federation aims to use this tournament as a platform to test and develop new players at the international level.
The federation also aspired to deliver an outstanding performance, claim the championship trophy, and dedicate the victory to President Al-Sisi and to the Egyptian people.
Ramadan extended his sincere thanks to Minister Sobhi for his ongoing and unwavering support of the Egyptian Sitting Volleyball Federation. He also praised the minister's close attention to every detail and his efforts in ensuring a smooth journey and preparation for the team.
Ramadan also expressed his gratitude to Amr Al-Haddad and Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz, assistants to the minister of sports, for their significant efforts in supporting all Paralympic sports, including sitting volleyball.
Speaking to Ramadan, Al-Haddad stated that the Egyptian state provides strong support to all national teams. 'We are always thankful for the blessing of safety and security that the Egyptian people enjoy under the wise leadership of President Al-Sisi.'
He added, before the tournament, that the Egyptian team was determined to defend its continental title. He also affirmed the federation's hope to deliver an honorable performance and to lift the championship trophy once again.
Ramadan also held an extensive meeting with a distinguished group of legendary figures from across generations of the sport.
He warmly welcomed all the icons who visited the federation's headquarters to congratulate the board on Egypt's recent triumph.
During the meeting, Ramadan discussed plans to establish a Sitting Volleyball Academy aiming to develop a unified curriculum for coaches, referees, administrators, event organisers, and all stakeholders involved in the sport under the federation's umbrella.
The gathering was marked by a spirit of pride and collaboration. Among those in attendance were Hossameddin Mustafa, president of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee and honorary president of the Sitting Volleyball Federation, Wagih Hamdi, major general Mansour Al-Mohammadi, Mossad Al-Ayouti, Captain Mohamed Badawi Basheer, captain Amin Abdel-Moneim, media figure Asaad Talaat, Marwan Saleh, and captain Essam Shehata.
Mustafa extended his congratulations to Ramadan, expressing his support for the launch of this important initiative. Sameh Salem, vice president of the federation, also called in to welcome the guests at the federation's headquarters and pledged his full support to overcome any obstacles and ensure the success of this significant step for Paralympic sports in Egypt.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 24 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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