Egypt wrestler Ziad Haggag unaccounted for after Slovakia World Championships

Ziad Haggag, a 19-year-old member of Egypt’s youth wrestling team, has gone missing from the team’s accommodation in Slovakia after completing his participation in the World Championships.

The Egyptian Wrestling Federation said officials were working with Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Egyptian embassy and other relevant authorities to establish the athlete’s whereabouts and determine what happened.

The incident came to light when members of the Egyptian team were preparing to travel to training. Coaching staff asked the wrestlers to accompany the team to the session, but Haggag told his team-mates that he would join them a few minutes later.

He did not arrive at the training venue. His phone was subsequently switched off, and officials discovered that he had left the hotel where the delegation was staying on Sunday.

Attempts by team officials to contact him or establish where he had gone were unsuccessful, prompting the federation to report the matter and begin formal procedures to search for him.

Ahmed Rashed, the federation’s treasurer and head of the Egyptian delegation in Slovakia, informed the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Egyptian embassy and the relevant authorities after Haggag’s disappearance was discovered.

Information reported by Al Arabiya said Haggag’s father, who lives in the Asyut Governorate, had visited his son at the Olympic Centre in Maadi before the team travelled to Slovakia.

The same reports said his father had signed an officially documented declaration at the notary office accepting legal responsibility for ensuring his son’s return to Egypt.

It is also understood that Haggag’s possession of a visa allowing entry to Schengen-area countries may have enabled him to leave the team’s accommodation. However, his current location remains unknown.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is continuing to liaise with the Egyptian Wrestling Federation and other authorities as officials attempt to verify the circumstances surrounding the case and locate the wrestler.

An investigation has also been opened to establish why Haggag disappeared and whether any member of the delegation failed in their responsibilities. The ministry said action would be taken against anyone found to have been negligent.

No further details about Haggag’s movements or possible destination have been made public. Officials are continuing efforts to gather information and clarify the circumstances of his departure from the team hotel.

The Egyptian federation has not indicated when contact with Haggag was last successfully made, beyond confirming that his phone was later found to be switched off and that he had left the delegation’s accommodation. The search remains focused on determining his location and ensuring his safe return.