Official Launch of the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation: A New Era for the Sport of Willpower and Determination in Egypt

In a long-awaited historic move, Egyptian sports witnessed the birth of a long-dreamed-of entity on January 30, 2025: the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation, officially established under registration number 152 of 2025.

This federation is not merely an administrative formality or a piece of paper—it is the culmination of years of hard work, patience, and ambition from champions who chose not to remain on the sidelines but to take center stage in both national and international sports.

The new federation serves as the official umbrella to organize, support, and develop wheelchair basketball in Egypt, one of the most competitive and widely practiced Paralympic sports in the world.

The founders believe that sport is not just a means of entertainment or competition, but a powerful tool for empowerment, sporting justice, and breaking negative stereotypes about persons with disabilities. It opens doors for achievement and the opportunity to raise Egypt’s name high in international arenas.

The board of directors of the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation reflects the spirit of teamwork, volunteerism, and field expertise.
Serves as president, Ms. May Zein ElDein, a prominent figure in the field of disability advocacy and empowerment.
Serves as vice president, Mr. Adel Selim, a prominent figure in Egyptian basketball, as one of Egypt’s top players and key leaders in developing and advancing the sport.
Serves as treasurer, Ms. Lamis Negm, a prominent figure in Egypt’s banking sector.

The federation also includes international referee Mahmoud Abdelaziz—one of the pillars of Arab and African officiating in wheelchair basketball—who takes on the executive role of General Manager. Other active members include Adel Sherif, Amr Fouad, Iman Karim, Alaa El-Nady, and Dr. Zein El-Tanawy.

Although the federation was not even a week old, Egypt’s determination made its mark immediately. At the end of January, Egypt’s U23 national wheelchair basketball team traveled to South Africa to compete in the African Championship, a qualifier for the World Cup.

Despite a short preparation period, the team managed to clinch third place and win the bronze medal—marking the first achievement under the new federation.

This accomplishment significantly boosted the players’ confidence and reaffirmed that Egypt is ready to compete strongly on both continental and global levels. It also showed that the newly established federation has the potential to truly make a difference.

On March 10, 2025, Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, honored the national team delegation upon their return from South Africa.

In his speech, the minister said: “What the U23 team achieved is living proof that Egyptian willpower cannot be defeated. Our youth with disabilities are fully capable of raising Egypt’s flag high at every sporting event.”

He added that the ministry will continue to provide full support to the Egyptian Wheelchair Basketball Federation and will be a key partner in all of its upcoming projects. He stressed that this is only the beginning and that many future championships and challenges await—with full preparation and strength.

In a spirited and determined atmosphere, the federation organized its very first local tournament under its supervision—the Egypt Cup for Wheelchair Basketball—held from February 26 to 28, 2025.

Eight Egyptian clubs from various governorates took part, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity and clubs’ increasing interest in developing their teams.

The tournament concluded with Alhassan Foundation team winning first place, the Minya Disability Team taking second, and Fayoum Disability Club placing third.

The event was marked by outstanding organization, impressive public turnout, and significant media coverage—unprecedented for wheelchair basketball events in Egypt.

In a noteworthy development, the federation announced in April 2025 the launch of Egypt’s first 3x3 wheelchair basketball tournament—a fast-paced format featuring three players on each side playing on a half-court.

This tournament, the first of its kind in the country, demonstrates the federation’s commitment to introducing new competition styles in line with international trends, especially after the format was officially recognized in the Olympics.

The goal of this tournament is to expand participation, encourage youth engagement in the sport, and provide players with fresh tactical challenges and opportunities for growth.

This federation stands as a message that Egyptian champions will not wait for recognition—they will create it themselves. Wheelchair basketball deserves the same level of support, development, and attention as any Olympic or global sport.