Egypt's Olympic Committee Unveils New Step in the Omar Aser-Mahmoud Ashraf Table Tennis Drama
The Egyptian Olympic Committee released new decisions and ordered a formal inquiry into the incident between Omar Aser and Mahmoud Ashraf Helmy at the Africa Championship in Tunisia, where Egypt won gold. The dispute began when Ashraf Helmy reportedly refused to shake hands with Aser before a semifinal match, triggering internal tensions within the team. The federation then barred Mahmoud Ashraf Helmy from stepping onto the podium during medal ceremonies to prevent further clashes. Authorities from the Ministry of Youth and Sports called for a comprehensive investigation, with a detailed report to follow. Despite the controversy, the Egyptian team celebrated a historic sweep of gold medals in both men's and women's events, underscoring the country’s rising strength in table tennis.
