Egyptian basketball legend Medhat Warda will be honored during the 2019 FIBA Hall of Fame on 30 August, according to the International Basketball Federation. Earlier in March, the 63-year-old Warda was chosen by the world basketball governing body among the top 11 basketball personalities for the 2019 class Hall of Fame. "The 2019 class will be enshrined into FIBA's Hall of Fame during a special ceremony taking place in Beijing, China, on 30 August, on the eve of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 tipping off," read a statement on FIBA's official website on Monday. Warda, who retired in 1987, was included on the list alongside seven former players: Janeth Arcain (Brazil), Margo Dydek (Poland - posthumously), Atanas Golomeev (Bulgaria), Alonzo Mourning (United States), Fabricio Oberto (Argentina), Jose "Piculin" Ortiz (Puerto Rico) and Jiri Zidek (Czech Republic). Coaches Natalia Hejkova (Slovak Republic), Bogdan Tanjevic (Montenegro) and Mou Zuoyun (China - posthumously) were also on the FIBA Hall of Fame list. According to FIBA's official website, all 11 names were selected from a list of more than 150 candidates. The Alexandria-born Warda started his professional career in 1973 with Ittihad of Alexandria club while he was 17 years old and made his debut with Egypt's senior national team at 18 years old. He quickly proved himself as an iconic player in Egyptian basketball history; guiding his club to six straight titles from 1982 to 1987 as well as the Egyptian team to a host of continental achievements. Warda also played twice in the Olympics, appearing as a 21-year-old player at the Montreal Games in 1976 and also at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at 28 years of age. Warda's superb performances earned him the African Player of the Year award in 1984, in addition to being named the Egyptian Player of the Year eight times over his career. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
