Reaching Top Sports Positions… Excelling in Both Academia and Professional Life

By: Zahraa Rashad

The remarkable achievements of Egyptian women span across all aspects of life. Their determination and perseverance have led them to excel not only in their communities but also in balancing their careers with family responsibilities. This report presents the success stories of four Egyptian women who have made significant contributions to sports while also achieving academic and professional excellence. Some have reached top positions in Egyptian and international sports federations. As the world celebrates International Women`s Day in March, we shed light on the success of Egyptian women in sports.

Hadia Hosny: From Badminton Champion to Federation Leader

Hadia Hosny is a distinguished athlete and the first African and Arab player to compete in the Olympic Games for badminton, participating in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Tokyo 2020. She comes from a sports-oriented family—her maternal grandfather, Sayed Nosseir, was the first Egyptian to win an Olympic gold medal in 1928, and her sister, Nadine Hosny, is a rhythmic gymnastics champion.

Born in 1988, Hadia started her athletic career in multiple sports, including equestrianism, gymnastics, and squash. However, at the age of 12, she was introduced to badminton by one of her coaches, which became her lifelong passion.

Hadia has participated in nearly 50 international badminton competitions (singles, doubles, and mixed doubles). She remains the only African player to have won an Olympic match in badminton.

Among her numerous titles, Hadia won the mixed doubles bronze medal at the 2015 International Challenge tournament, marking a historic first for Egypt. She also secured medals at various international competitions, including the Mauritius International and the Botswana International Badminton Championships. In 2016, she was a key member of the Egyptian team that won five medals at the Botswana International Badminton Championship and claimed gold at the South Africa Championship.

At the 2019 African Games in Morocco, Hadia won the women’s doubles gold medal alongside her teammate Doha Hany. She later established her own badminton academy, aspiring to nurture future Olympic contenders.

Hadia’s excellence extends beyond sports—she holds a Bachelor`s degree in Pharmacy from Ain Shams University, a Master`s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Bath, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Cairo University (2022). She currently serves as a lecturer at the British University in Egypt.

Hadia played professionally in the English and French leagues and was selected as an ambassador for the International Badminton Federation at the Peace Cup in Dubai. In 2019, she presented her inspiring journey at the seventh ed .

Aya Medany: Pentathlon Champion, Parliamentarian, and Sports Ambassador

Aya Medany, born in November 1988, is a modern pentathlon champion who competed in running, swimming, shooting, fencing, and equestrian events. She also served as a lecturer at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport.

Aya won the Junior World Championship in modern pentathlon in 2006 and 2008 and competed in the Athens Olympics as the youngest Egyptian Olympian at the time. She made history as the youngest female pentathlete in the world and the first Egyptian woman to qualify for the Olympic Games in this discipline, finishing eighth in Beijing 2008.

Aya is a key figure in international sports governance. She has served as a member and then chair of the Athletes’ Commission at the Egyptian Olympic Committee. She was also appointed to the International Olympic Committee’s task force overseeing boxing at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. In a historic achievement, she became the first Egyptian woman to win a permanent seat on the International Olympic Committee and was selected as Africa’s representative on special committees within the International Modern Pentathlon Union.

Aya has also held leadership positions at Al-Shams Club and was honored by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2017. In recognition of her dedication to sports advocacy, she was appointed as a member of the Egyptian Parliament, where she aims to promote school sports and youth development.

Amena Taraboulsi: The First Woman to Lead Egypt’s Squash Federation

Amena Taraboulsi was elected as the president of the Egyptian Squash Federation for the 2024-2028 term, becoming the first woman to hold this prestigious position. She previously served on the federation’s board in the 2020-2024 cycle, gaining substantial support from the general assembly.

Born on April 28, 1985, in Alexandria, Amena began playing squash at a young age and achieved a world ranking of No. 21 in February 2004—a significant milestone during an era when Egyptian women’s squash had yet to dominate globally. She won the World Junior Championship and later graduated from the Faculty of Engineering.

Amena also worked as a television presenter for the sports program "Champions," specializing in squash and profiling professional players.

The National Council for Women congratulated Amena on her historic election, recognizing it as a major milestone for Egyptian women in sports leadership. The International Squash Federation also celebrated her achievement in honor of International Women`s Day, highlighting her role as a trailblazer in Egyptian squash governance.

Doaa El-Ghobashy: Beach Volleyball Star and International Representative

Doaa El-Ghobashy, 29, is a professional volleyball player for Al Ahly Club. She began playing indoor volleyball at the age of six, representing several major Egyptian clubs, including Al Ahly, Sporting, Wadi Degla, Shams, and Delphi.

In 2014, Doaa transitioned to beach volleyball, where she competed in the African Championship and the qualifiers for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. At just 19 years old, she became the first Arab woman to qualify for the Olympic Games in beach volleyball—a dream milestone for any athlete.

Doaa believes that being married to a fellow athlete helps her balance her professional and personal life, as her husband understands the demands of training, travel, and competition.

Her international achievements include securing second place at the 2014 African Club Championship in Tunisia, winning silver at the 2015 Arab Beach Volleyball Championship in Jordan, and claiming gold at the 2016 African U-23 Championship. She also earned gold at the African Games in 2019 and participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In a groundbreaking achievement, Doaa won a seat on the Athletes’ Commission of the International Volleyball Federation, marking a significant milestone for Egyptian female athletes on the global stage.