Egypt’s sports authorities under fire over Tokyo games
Although Egypt received six medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for the first time in years, sports authorities in the country were criticized due to players’ complaints about inappropriate training.
CAIRO — The sports authorities in Egypt have been the topic of debate because of the lack of appropriate training for players who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in addition to some Egyptian players representing other countries during the competitions.
In an Aug. 8 TV interview, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed his country's resolve to support athletes to raise Egypt's name high in international tournaments. “We are working to promote sports in schools and universities, and I salute all Egyptian families who are working on enhancing their children’s talents,” he said.
Sisi also announced that the athletes who won Olympic medals will be honored by naming several roads and bridges after them.
Egypt won six different Olympic medals in the Tokyo games, for the first time in the history of its Olympic participation. Feryal Ashraf won the gold medal in karate and Ahmed al-Gendy won the silver of the modern pentathlon for men, which is the first Egyptian medal in the modern pentathlon competitions. Saif Issa and Hedaya Malak won the bronze in taekwondo, and Muhammad Ibrahim “Kisho” won the men's wrestling bronze medal. Gianna Farouk won the women's bronze in the women's kumite's -61kg event.
