The eyes of squash fans this week are turning to Cairo, where Egypt is preparing to host the most important event of the season as the Squash World Championship kicks off at the Palm Hills Club courts from May 8 to 16, in an edition that carries major technical and historical stakes.

This tournament is not just another competition for a title; it looks more like a new test of Egypt’s continued dominance in the sport globally, especially as it is being held on Egyptian soil with a strong international lineup and huge prize money reaching $700,000 for men and the same amount for women.

Egypt’s Dominance On Full Display

The Egyptian presence in this edition stands out in both quantity and quality. In the men’s category, the lineup includes top names led by Mostafa Asal, alongside Karim Abdel Gawad, Youssef Ibrahim, Mohamed Zakaria, Fares Dessouky, Youssef Soliman, Ali Abou Eleinen, and Mohamed Abouelghar. On the women’s side, Egypt enters with a strong squad featuring Hania El Hammamy, Nour El Sherbini, Amina Orfi, Rowan Elaraby, Nada Abbas, Fayrouz Abou El Khair, and Salma Hany.

The Egyptian team enters the tournament with a clear psychological advantage after strongly asserting its presence in the latest world rankings released just days before the start. Mostafa Asal continues to lead the men’s rankings, while Hania El Hammamy remains at the top of the women’s rankings. This numerical dominance does not only reflect the strength of Egyptian players, but also confirms that the title race will once again be heavily shaped by Egyptian presence.

Sherbini And Asal Chase History

What gives this tournament its special character is the weight of individual ambitions among the stars.

Mostafa Asal enters as the defending men’s champion after winning last year’s edition by defeating Ali Farag in the final. While he aims to retain his title, he knows that defending the top spot is often harder than reaching it, especially with strong and experienced challengers in the field.

On the other side, Nour El Sherbini’s story runs even deeper. The Egyptian champion is not only defending her previous title after beating Hania El Hammamy in last year’s final, but she is also one step away from a historic achievement. El Sherbini currently shares the record for the most World Championship titles with Malaysian legend Nicol David, with eight titles each. A new title in Cairo would not just be another trophy, but a moment of complete separation from that shared record, making her the sole holder of the record in the sport.

Despite the spotlight on the top stars, the tournament also highlights the depth of Egyptian squash. The presence of multiple Egyptian players in the world’s top rankings, along with the rise of young talents like Amina Orfi, Mohamed Zakaria, and Fayrouz Abou El Khair, shows that Egypt is not only relying on its current generation but continues to produce new champions capable of sustaining this dominance.

All of this makes the upcoming World Championship more than just a fight for a trophy. It is a clash between Egypt’s ongoing dominance and the world’s ambition to break it.

In Cairo, where the tournament takes place in front of an audience that deeply understands the game’s value and history, the biggest question over the coming days will be clear:

Will Egypt continue to monopolize world gold… or will Palm Hills witness the beginning of a different story?