Egypt to name roads after Tokyo Olympic medallists

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi celebrates country's six-medal haul in Tokyo, hails Karate gold medal as an 'Egyptian success tale'

Members of Team Egypt during the Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan

Egypt will name newly built roads and junctions after the country’s six athletes who won medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced on Sunday.

The Egyptian leader made the announcement when he phoned in to a late night talk show on state television while hosting karate gold medallist Feryal Abdelaziz and her parents.

“This is a beautiful Egyptian tale and success. You brought us Egyptians joy and happiness,” said Mr El Sisi.

Egypt's Feryal Abdelaziz poses with her gold medal in the women's kumite +61kg in the karate competition at a ceremony during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. AFP

“We will name new roads and junctions that we will, God willing, inaugurate soon, after you and your colleagues who won medals. It will be our honour.”

Abdelaziz, 22, became the first Egyptian woman to win an Olympic gold medal. It was also Egypt’s first gold medal since wrestler Karam Gaber's triumph in Athens 2004.

Egypt’s medal tally in Tokyo - one gold, a silver and four bronze – is the country’s largest, improving on the five won in 1936, 1948 and 2004.

Silver medalist Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt during the medal ceremony for the Modern Pentathlon event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. EPA WU HONG

“It is the most joyous and closest sport to my heart,” the Egyptian leader said about Karate.

“I first practised karate in 1970,” added the 66-year-old Mr El Sisi, who frequently makes public appearances riding a bicycle and is known to do regular gym workouts.

Beside the financial reward for winning an Olympic gold - one million Egyptian pounds ($63,543) and a lifetime monthly stipend of 3,500 pounds ($222) - Mr El Sisi offered on Sunday night to send Abdelaziz and her parents on an all-expenses-paid pilgrimage to Makkah.