Egyptian Wrestler Flees to France, Igniting Debate on Athlete Salaries

Bagdouda, 22, is a promising wrestler who has won several medals at international competitions. He is also a student at the Egyptian Academy of Sports.

After winning the silver medal in Tunisia, Bagdouda left his belongings in the hotel room and turned his phone off. He then made his way to France, where he is now seeking asylum.

Bagdouda's escape has raised questions about the salaries of Egyptian athletes. According to the Egyptian Wrestling Federation, the monthly salary of a national team wrestler is about $100. This is a very low salary, especially for an athlete who is competing at an international level.

The Egyptian government also provides very little support to athletes. There are no government-funded training facilities, and athletes have to pay for their own travel and equipment.

Bagdouda's escape is a sign of the challenges that Egyptian athletes face. They are not paid enough, they do not have access to good training facilities, and they do not receive enough support from the government. This is a major problem, and it is one that needs to be addressed if Egypt wants to produce world-class athletes.

In addition to the salary issue, Bagdouda's escape has also raised questions about the culture of corruption in Egyptian sports. There have been allegations that officials in the Egyptian Wrestling Federation have been demanding bribes from athletes in exchange for financial support.

These allegations are serious, and they need to be investigated. If they are true, it is clear that there is a major problem with corruption in Egyptian sports. This needs to be addressed if Egypt wants to create a clean and fair environment for athletes to compete in.

Bagdouda's escape is a wake-up call for the Egyptian government. It is clear that there are major problems with the way that athletes are treated in Egypt. If the government wants to produce world-class athletes, it needs to address these problems and provide more support to athletes.