Aly Tolba: The Mastermind Behind Egypt’s Modern Squash Greats

In the heart of Egypt’s squash empire, few names resonate with as much authority as Aly Tolba, a former national champion whose transformation from prodigy to world-class coach has redefined how champions are made.

As a former Egyptian National Junior Team player, U.S. Junior Open Champion, and national number one in the Under 13 and Under 15 divisions, Tolba built his playing career on precision, resilience, and tactical brilliance. Those same traits now define his coaching philosophy, one that has produced some of Egypt’s most accomplished professionals of the modern era.

One of Tolba’s most remarkable success stories is Fayrouz Abouelkheir, who blossomed under his coaching from a promising junior into one of the top 12 players in the world. Under Tolba’s guidance, she developed her tactical depth and court intelligence, propelling her to the semi-finals of the Open de France de Squash 2022, the finals of the Carol Weymuller Open 2024 in New York, and the quarter-finals of the 2023–2024 CIB PSA World Championships. Abouelkheir’s ascent from junior standout to global professional contender reflects the kind of long-term transformation that has become Tolba’s hallmark.

Equally notable is Malak Khafagy, now ranked world #25, who credits her rise to Tolba’s unique training system. His integration of sports science, biomechanics, and strategic conditioning has become a benchmark for modern squash coaching.

“Coach Tolba completely transformed my game,” Khafagy has shared in interviews. “His focus on developing my recovery speed and movement patterns under pressure helped me break into the top of the professional circuit.”

Khafagy went on to win both the Odense Open 2023 and the Hamilton Open 2023, achievements she attributes to the technical refinement and psychological preparation developed during her training with Tolba.

Zeina Zein, another of Tolba’s exceptional students, demonstrated her coach’s philosophy of long-term growth through consistent development. After capturing the Nash Cup in 2022 and securing several PSA Challenger semifinal and final appearances, she became a symbol of Tolba’s ability to bridge the gap between junior excellence and professional maturity.

Through his unique combination of analytical precision, empathy, and firsthand experience at the sport’s elite level, Aly Tolba has forged a coaching legacy rooted in both science and intuition. His work has been acknowledged by the Egyptian Squash Federation as a “critical component in sustaining Egypt’s global dominance.” From the courts of Alexandria to the international circuit, Tolba’s vision continues to shape the champions who define the future of squash.