Two Egyptian wrestlers have recently fled while abroad, prompting discussions about their circumstances and potential legal consequences. Ziad Hajjaj Abu Gabal, 19, disappeared from the Egyptian team camp at the 2026 Under-20 World Wrestling Championships in Slovakia on August 29. In a Facebook message, he expressed his desire to honor his country and cited financial pressures as a reason for his decision, stating he earned only 700 Egyptian pounds ($13.7) a month as an international athlete.
Similarly, Mohamed al-Shami, 23, escaped while his team was in transit through Rome after the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy. In his Facebook post, he mentioned feeling like a financial burden on his family and wanting to take responsibility for their well-being.
The Egyptian authorities may pursue legal action against both athletes, but their posts have garnered sympathy from many Egyptians on social media, who relate to the pressures faced by athletes in a country experiencing economic hardship.
Reports indicate that younger wrestlers in Egypt typically earn between 700 and 800 Egyptian pounds ($13.7 to $15.7) monthly, while older international competitors earn between 5,000 pounds ($98.2) and 12,000 pounds ($235.7), depending on their achievements.
A 27-year-old wrestler, who chose to remain anonymous, noted that many athletes go into debt to cover living expenses and supplements while awaiting prize money.
Several other Egyptian wrestlers have previously defected, including Ahmed Baghdouda, who left for France in 2023 after winning silver at the African Wrestling Championships, and Tarek Abdel Salam, who defected to Bulgaria in 2017. Mohamed Ibrahim el-Sayed, a prominent wrestler, announced his intention to represent the United States in October 2025.
Kishu, as Ibrahim is known, criticized the Egyptian Wrestling Federation for failing to provide adequate support and expressed concern about the future of athletes after retirement or injury.
Al Jazeera reached out to officials from the Egyptian Wrestling Federation (EWF) and the Egyptian National Olympic Committee (ENOC) for comments but did not receive responses. Hossam Mohamed, the EWF’s team psychologist, stated that the federation offers good support, including financial bonuses and training camps, but acknowledged that the core issue lies in what athletes face after their careers end.
Gamal el-Badrawy, a former head of Egypt’s kickboxing federation, urged the Ministry of Youth and Sports to improve oversight of national sports federations and address financial and administrative shortcomings.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has referred Hajjaj and al-Shami to the public prosecutor for allegedly violating national delegation rules. The ENOC has also suspended Brigadier General Ibrahim Adel, the EWF secretary-general, for allowing al-Shami to escape.
Hajjaj’s father expressed concern for his son’s safety and noted the financial burdens associated with wrestling. He stated he had signed the required parental consent for his son to travel and had not been contacted by the wrestling federation since his son’s departure.
This article was published in collaboration with Egab, a platform that empowers journalists from across the Global South to publish stories in international media outlets.