Gaborone, Botswana – Egypt’s rising badminton star Adham Hatem Elgamal delivered a commanding performance to secure the men’s singles gold medal at the All Africa Senior Badminton Championships 2026, held from February 9 to 15 in Botswana’s capital.
Hatem clinched the continental title after a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Mauritius’ Jean Bernard in a gripping final that underscored both tactical discipline and physical resilience. The Egyptian shuttler demonstrated composure under pressure, recovering momentum after dropping a set to seal the championship in decisive fashion.
The 28-year-old’s campaign reflected consistency and technical superiority. He opened with a straight-sets win in the round of 64 against Lesotho’s representative, followed by another 2–0 triumph over South Africa’s champion in the round of 32.
Maintaining his rhythm, Hatem dispatched Uganda’s top-ranked player in the round of 16 before facing his sternest challenge in the quarter-finals, edging Algeria’s champion 2–1 in a physically demanding encounter. He then advanced to the final with a composed 2–0 semi-final victory over Mauritius.
Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Gohar Nabil, congratulated the national delegation and the Egyptian Badminton Federation, describing the results as a reflection of sustained investment in grassroots development and elite training programs.
The triumph further consolidates Egypt’s standing as a dominant force in African badminton, with a new generation of athletes increasingly asserting themselves on the continental stage.
Egypt’s performance in Botswana extended beyond the men’s singles title. The women’s team secured silver in the team competition, led by standout performances from Doha Hany and Nour Yousry, among others. Hany and Yousry also captured silver in the women’s doubles event.
The men’s team added bronze in the team category, while additional podium finishes included bronze medals in women’s singles, mixed doubles, and men’s doubles — highlighting the depth and cohesion of Egypt’s squad.
With a diversified medal haul and a headline-grabbing men’s singles gold, Egypt’s campaign in Gaborone signals a maturing high-performance structure within its badminton ecosystem. The Botswana championships not only crowned a new African champion in Hatem but also reinforced Egypt’s trajectory toward sustained continental leadership in the sport.
