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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Interview Features Focus Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Barada's No 1 fan
Business tycoon Ahmed Bahgat has signed a four-year sponsor-hip deal with Ahmed Barada, Egypt's best squash player, in the hopes of winning an Olympic medal. It is Barada's third spon-orship accord following an 11-year agreement with businessman Ibrahim Kamel and a stint with Mobinil which lasted for one year. Though Bahgat refused to release figures, Barada's latest link-up with a sponsor could prove the most lucrative.
Barada and Bahgat signing the contract
"It's a good opportunity for me to concentrate more on play-ng rather than on expenses," said Barada, who has said he was worried about losing tournaments simply because his mind would be elsewhere. "Dr Bahgat has made it easier for me to play in all tournaments but has made it difficult for me to find excuses to lose." Barada, ranked No 3 in the world, plays in roughly 12 major tournaments a year.
"We were looking for serious, promising players to sponsor," said Bahgat at a press conference following the signing ceremony. "We found Barada." Looking at Barada's calendar of future events, Bahgat focussed on two world cups and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Squash is yet to be played in the Olympics but Bahgat is pinning high hopes that when the sport does become an official entry, Barada will be there -- and standing on the winner's podium. "We want to guarantee an Olympic medal," Bahgat said.
Bahgat, representing the Bahgat Group, said of the deal that there would be more like it for many other players in other sports -- on one condition. "They should be promising and serious and can guarantee an Olympic medal."
In Barada, Bahgat probably has an Olympic medal already in his pocket. At nine, he was the youngest player to be sponsored. Under the tutelage of Abbas Kaoud, an Egyptian squash champion who settled in England, Barada won the world's under-14 title, and has not looked back since.
In other news, Al-Ahram Women's Grand Prix and Al-Ahram Men's Masters are scheduled to be played in Hurghada at the end of March. In May, Luxor will host its first international tournament. The glass court will be positioned at Karnak Temple in a bid to promote tourism and sports.
