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Egypt Squash legend El-Shorbagy to represent England
The Egyptian Squash legend and former World No.1 Mohamed El-Shorbagy has decided to switch allegiance to represent England in Professional Squash Association (PSA) and World Squash Federation (WSF) events, as England Squash announced on Monday.
The 31-year-old player has been on top of the Squash world for around seven years between 2014 and 2021 and racked up 44 professional titles to his name.
El-Shorbagy explained in a statement for BBC his reasons for representing England over Egypt.
“It took me four months to take that decision; I finally decided to do the logical thing that would guarantee support for me as a Squash player; the more you grow up, the more you need a supporting team (a doctor, trainer,….) with you in this game, these basics wasn’t available for me before.”
“The English team provided me with all the necessary support; it isn’t about money; it is about covering me as an athlete in a case of injuries; for example, my country didn’t offer me the medical and psychological support.”
“I never had an Egyptian sponsor, regardless of my history as No.1 player, the English team believed in me and offered their support, so in conclusion, I had to think about myself,” El-Shorbagy explained.
“I’m very proud as an Egyptian of the achievements that accomplished to my country such as Al Jonah 2016, the 2011 championship for teams that I played the semi-final France vs. Egypt and I won it for my country.”
“It wasn’t an easy decision for me to take especially since I might have to play against Egypt in the future, but I gave a lot to my country; it’s time for me to think about myself.”
El-Shorbagy left for England in 2006 when he was around 15, spending more than half his life there as a British citizen. Since then, he has been training with English coaches.
“I’m really excited to be representing England now,” El-Shorbagy told PSA World Tour, Resume” “I’ve lived in England more than half my life and have been trained by British coaches since the age of 15”.
“National Coach David Campion and the wider England Squash team have offered me a lot of support over the years. When you have people like that who appreciate you for who you are, without expecting anything back, it means a lot,” he said.
Resume “The opportunity to represent England is extremely exciting, and I will give it my all playing under the English flag.”
England Squash CEO Mark Williams said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Mohamed to England Squash and look forward to helping him continue to perform at the highest level of the game. We’re delighted that he’s so keen to play a role in supporting the exciting crop of young players currently coming through our talent pathway.”
Explained, “We’re committed to extending England’s legacy as one of the most successful nations in squash and feel confident that adding a player of Mohamed’s caliber will help to inspire and encourage current and future generations of English talent.”
Campion resume “Mohamed is a proven winner at the game’s highest level. He’s a formidable competitor and one of the best players of his generation who I believe will add a great deal to the England system.”
ElShorbagy’s first tournament playing under the English flag will be the Necker Mauritius Open, a PSA World Tour event, between 7-11 June. He will make his debut at the British National Squash Championships in Manchester between 14-18 June, where he will be the men’s top seed.
He will make his Team England debut at the European Team Championships in 2023.
Lendo, a Saudi Arabia-based Shariah-compliant crowdlending marketplace, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with J.P. Morgan to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
The MOU was signed during 24 Fintech, a premier fintech event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and investors in Riyadh.
J.P. Morgan and Lendo are working together on potential opportunities to support the SME sector in Saudi Arabia in growing and sustaining the remarkable demand in this market.
“This strategic collaboration with J.P. Morgan, a pioneer in the financial industry, marks a significant milestone for Lendo,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo. “By combining our strengths, we’ll deliver cutting-edge financial solutions to SMEs, supporting their growth and contributing directly to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
The SME financing landscape in MENA presents a substantial market opportunity as limited financial access continues to restrict the growth of the region’s businesses, with commercial banks hesitant to issue loans to SMEs at scale, resulting in a high percentage of declined financing requests annually.
The total SME financing gap in developing countries is estimated to be approximately $5.2 trillion, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Lendo’s debt crowdfunding platform aims to bridge the financing gap for SMEs, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to significantly expand SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.
According to the latest available report from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the total value of debt crowdfunding in Saudi Arabia surged from SAR 1.4 million in 2019 to SAR 771 million in 2022, marking a remarkable growth.
Lendo raised SAR 132 million ($35.2 million) in total funding from leading investors, including the most recent Series B led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly-owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Since its inception in December 2019, Saudi fintech Lendo has processed over 5,000 financing transactions on its platform, providing over SAR 2 billion ($600 million) in financing to SMEs and generating SAR 280 million ($74 million) in returns for investors.
TA Telecom, a prominent player in the Middle East’s tech sector, has unveiled AnteThink, an AI-driven tool designed to enhance decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.
With a history of influencing the tech landscape through various initiatives, including advanced mobile solutions, high-volume payment platforms, and ventures in e-commerce, fintech, and analytics, TA Telecom has carved a niche for itself. Serving a vast user base of 40 million and processing an impressive 15 billion transactions across its platforms, TA Telecom has cemented its position as a tech industry leader, with some of its ventures achieving the status of Y Combinator companies.
Established in 2000, TA Telecom has emerged as a prominent player in the technology sector. With over 40 million users and processing 15 billion transactions annually, TA Telecom has made a notable impact. Recognized for its contributions by the Financial Times and featured on Deloitte’s list of fastest-growing tech companies in EMEA, TA Telecom is known for its adaptability and forward-thinking approach in the ever-evolving global tech landscape.
Sameh Ibrahim, CEO of TA Telecom, highlights the potential of AnteThink: “AnteThink reflects our commitment to leverage technology for practical impact. It aims to provide clarity and confidence in decision-making, whether in the professional or personal sphere. AnteThink is a tool that can empower startup founders, executives, and individuals to make more informed choices, alleviating the stress and uncertainty often associated with critical decision-making.”
Mostafa Ashour, CEO of Y Combinator-backed startup NowPay, shared his perspective on AnteThink: “AnteThink transformed our strategic planning, allowing us to explore various scenarios and prepare for different outcomes. It has strengthened our decision-making process, helping us navigate the complexities of the business landscape.”
AnteThink embodies TA Telecom’s commitment to innovation, focusing on supporting the startup ecosystem. The tool is tailored to help leaders and executives navigate the complexities of business management and strategic development by providing a clear picture of potential outcomes.
Key Features of AnteThink include:
1. Second Order Mode: Offering a comprehensive analysis of broader impacts, fostering a strategic mindset for long-term success.
2. Optionality Mode: Enabling detailed evaluation and comparison of different choices to ensure decisions align with strategic objectives and values.
3. Inversion Mode: Focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks, thereby strengthening risk management strategies.
Credit: Antethink
AnteThink’s advanced AI technology aims to assist decision-makers with insightful analytics, offering guidance through the decision-making process.
Selina Bieber, the Senior Director of Global Markets at GoDaddy, has predicted a significant increase in Egypt’s e-commerce revenue. By 2028, it could reach $9.88 billion.
Godaddy is forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives to help local entrepreneurs. These efforts align with Egypt’s digital transformation goals and its Vision 2030.
In an interview with the Arabic financial news “Amwal Al Ghad,” Bieber spoke about GoDaddy’s plans and how they match Egypt’s 2023 strategy. She highlighted the company’s aim to provide effective, easy-to-use digital tools and services. By 2024, GoDaddy wants to serve more customers in Egypt by making its digital tools more widespread.
The company is working closely with the Egyptian government, especially the Ministry of Planning. They are offering training programs to improve the digital skills of startups and existing businesses. GoDaddy’s services in Egypt include domain registration, web hosting, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing tools.
Recent surveys support Bieber’s positive outlook for e-commerce in Egypt. They show a clear trend towards digital strategies among small businesses. Many are realizing the importance of having an online presence for their growth and success.
As GoDaddy continues its partnerships and supports government digital initiatives, its influence on Egypt’s digital landscape is growing. The company is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. It aims not just for business growth but also to contribute to a sustainable and thriving digital economy in Egypt.
The 2028 projection indicates a vast potential for e-commerce, with GoDaddy playing a key role in this digital evolution.
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