The 2025 Egyptian Open International Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies will see nearly 100 players from 15 countries compete for an unprecedented prize pool of nearly EGP 1m, the Egyptian Golf Federation President Omar Hisham Talaat announced at a press conference on Wednesday. The tournament will be held from Oct. 23 to 25 at the New Giza Golf Club, with players representing Saudi Arabia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belarus, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, South Africa, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, and Zimbabwe, in addition to host country Egypt. The prize money, which includes both cash and in-kind awards, is being offered for the first time in the tournament's history. The event will feature the Ladies' Championship, known as the Nefertiti Cup, and the Juniors' Championship. Omar Hisham Talaat, said the tournament is part of the federation's ambitious strategy to expand the game's base in Egypt, noting that participation rates have grown by over 25% in the past period. "We have an ambitious plan for this tournament to be the most prominent and attractive event for juniors and ladies in the Middle East and Africa," Omar Hisham Talaat said. He added that the championship also contributes to promoting golf tourism and provides a vital opportunity for Egyptian players to compete against international talent. Talaat said the federation's vision extends beyond competitions, as it believes that empowering women through golf is part of a broader mission to empower them in public life and leadership. He also revealed that the federation is currently in the final stages of preparation for the Egyptian Open in Madinaty and the Asian Tour event in Ain Sokhna, which he said represent a "significant turning point" in Egyptian golf and reflect the country's growing ability to host major international tournaments. The launch event was attended by officials from the Egyptian, Arab, and African golf federations, as well as a representative from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Ferihane Bouchamaoui, a board member of the Arab Golf Federation and head of its women's committee, said the Arab federation values the efforts of its Egyptian counterpart in developing the game. She noted that holding the tournament under the name "Nefertiti" carries symbolic significance for the status of women and children in Arab golf. Ghassan Kabbani, vice president of the Africa Golf Confederation, said the Nefertiti Cup represents an important step towards building the future of golf in the region by expanding the base of female and junior players. Ahmed Mokhtar, head of the central administration for sports performance at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, conveyed the minister's greetings and praised the choice of the "Nefertiti" theme, which he said embodies the spirit of ancient Egyptian sports and the inspiring role of women in society.
