Hamad Fathy’s name is no longer linked only to his remarkable height or to the photos of him that appear on social media from time to time. This time, his name has returned to the spotlight for a more important reason, after he was named in Egypt’s basketball squad ahead of the third window of the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Fathy’s story stands out for more than one reason. The player who caught attention a few weeks ago after appearing with Mahmoud Abdel Razek Shikabala during Zamalek’s celebrations after winning the Egypt Basketball Cup, because of the huge height difference between them, is now back in the headlines through the national team. This proves that the talk about him should not stop at a photo or his height, but should also focus on a different sporting journey that deserves attention.

Spanish coach Augustí Bosch, head coach of Egypt’s national basketball team, announced the Pharaohs’ squad for the qualifiers in Angola from July 1 to 5, as part of the road to the 2027 Basketball World Cup. The list included several important names, such as Anas Osama, Ehab Amin, Amr El Gendy, Assem Marei, Omar Hesham, Patrick Gardner, and Hamad Fathy, who gives the team special strength under the basket thanks to his height and experience.

The Story of a Different Player

Hamad Fathy is not an ordinary player in Egyptian sport. His height, which reaches around 2.29 meters, makes him one of the tallest athletes in Egypt, and that is why his appearances have always drawn public attention. But behind this height, there is a long journey that started in Alexandria, specifically in the village of Abis, before he continued his path on basketball courts.

Fathy started his career at Smouha Club, then moved to El Sharkia Lel Dokhan, before joining Telecom Egypt, where he has shown strong form recently. One of his most notable moments with the team was helping them reach the Egypt Basketball Cup final, after producing an impressive performance against Al Ittihad Alexandria in the semi-final and winning the best player award in that game.

Although Telecom Egypt lost the Egypt Cup final to Zamalek, Hamad Fathy’s photo with Shikabala after the match created wide interest. Some people saw it as a funny moment because of the height difference, but in reality, it brought attention back to the story of a player with a different sporting experience.

Latest News

After Thrilling All-Egyptian Battle, Adam Hawal Sets Up Vancouver Squash Final Against French StarWas Hossam Hassan’s Handling of Mohamed Salah Behind His Exit as Egypt Coach?

Between Basketball and Handball.. A Rare Journey

What makes Hamad Fathy’s career even more interesting is that he did not only play basketball, but also had an important experience in handball. In 2015, he wore the shirt of Egypt’s senior handball national team and helped the team win the gold medal at the African Games in Congo. By doing so, he became one of the few athletes to represent Egypt in two different team sports.

This experience makes his story more special. He is not just a very tall player, but an athlete who has competed internationally and succeeded at a high level in two different sports that both require physical strength, focus, and the ability to handle pressure.

With his return to Egypt’s basketball squad, the opportunity in front of him looks important. Egypt enter the next window with clear ambition to improve their position and continue their path toward the World Cup, especially after taking part in the previous window in Alexandria, where they finished third. That is why the games in Angola will be a strong test for the coaching staff and the players.

The national team squad is wide and varied, including players with experience, power, and speed. This reflects the coaching staff’s desire to have more than one solution during the upcoming games. Among all these names, Hamad Fathy’s presence remains important and eye-catching, because he gives the team a clear advantage under the basket, whether in defense, high balls, or close battles near the rim.

But Hamad Fathy’s story does not stop on the court. The player has spoken on more than one occasion about the difficulties he faces in daily life because of his height, such as finding suitable clothes and shoes, especially as his shoe size is extremely large and rare, in addition to needing special arrangements in his everyday life. Despite these difficulties, he has managed to turn his height from a challenge into a point of strength that has shaped a big part of his sporting personality.

From a photo that spread with a major football star to a place in Egypt’s national team squad, Hamad Fathy proves that some stories may begin with a social media moment, but they are only completed on the court. Between public interest and the player’s ambition, Egypt’s basketball team enters a new stage of the qualifiers with a player who knows very well how to attract attention — this time not only because of his height, but also because of his dream. :::