Egypt right back Yahia Omar is appearing in his fourth IHF Men’s World Championship after making his debut at France 2017 as a 19-year-old, scoring once.

Since then, the North African side have gradually improved their ranking in the global event, finishing 13th on his debut then eighth in 2019 and two seventh placed finishes in a row (2021, 2023).

The All-Star right back at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and MVP at the last two editions of the CAHB African Men’s Handball Championships (2022, 2024) spoke to ihf.info after his side defeated Bahrain in their second match of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship.

The 27-year-old took time out to reflect on his senior national team career, his move to Paris Saint-Germain last July and a whole lot more.

ihf.info: Yahia, your 35:24 win over Bahrain was your second victory in two games, coming after your 39:25 defeat of Argentina on the opening day. That means you have now confirmed your main round place. How does that feel?

Yahia Omar: That's what we came for. We knew that these first two games, respectfully, are going to be easier than the next one (against Croatia), so we wanted just to get in shape and get in the rhythm of the championship.

It's always hard in the beginning, so it was good for us to have first two games like this, where we can play everybody and mix all the players together, so we can all gain our chemistry. For us it was a good step to have before Croatia on Sunday (20 January).

ihf.info: Did you expect such a big win (+11) against Bahrain?

Yahia Omar: Look, it's always different. You cannot compare the big games with these games which go to your benefit. Against Argentina was really good as they were a really good team. We had luck that they got two red cards in the beginning so they would have to be easy at the end of the game.

These wins give us a lot of confidence, that we know we are in good shape, that there was not any glitch in the beginning. For us, it's perfect until now.

Against Croatia it’s going to be a big fight, because they're playing at home, and we know how they play. They're really aggressive, but we're going to be ready for it.

ihf.info: You are now in your fourth IHF Men’s World Championship, what are your memories of your first – France 2017?

Yahia Omar: Actually, the first one is always really nice. I was blessed. I was the youngest player ever to go to an IHF Men’s World Championship with the senior team.

I was on the bench all the time, but I was in the squad of 16 so I saw all the games and I got to play in some of them. It was a really great experience. The level of the team was not like it is now, but you could watch how the players played against the big guys. It was the first time you see everything.

We were actually speaking about this [here]: that this time we want to play like it's the first time. Because when it is the first time, you always want to prove yourself, you're feeling all the emotions.

I still remember it to this day.

ihf.info: In eight years you have gone from being a rookie to being one of the most important players in the team. How has that been for you?

Yahia Omar: It was always my goal – even when I was young, playing in my young team – to always be the guy that wants the ball most and I wanted to be good. This was my main motivation; that everybody thinks that I'm good, that I am helping my team, that I'm helpful for everybody, so I'm just enjoying playing.

But now, I can’t say it's pressure, it's just responsibility and it's a big enjoyment for me. It would be not so nice if I would be here all these years without the minutes that I play.

In the beginning, I used to complain a little bit like, ‘I'm tired, I'm always tired’, but now, I'm always feeling like I don't want to go out (from the court). It's always nice to have the ball. It's always nice to be in the court and as long as this team is doing what they're doing, it's great to play with them. 

Since 2021, after our game against Denmark (2021 IHF Men’s World Championship quarter-final) and up until now, we never went to a championship thinking that we will not win it. For Egypt, at least, it’s something because we didn't have this before. We used to only look about the group stage. Now we always look for it, even if it happens or if it doesn't happen, but we have this goal in mind.

ihf.info: Of course, we know the coaches and players who have helped you in your career, but away from handball, who has helped support you through your ups and downs over the years?

Yahia Omar: For me personally, of course, it's my family. They are the number one. I play for them because without them, there's no real victory. You have nobody to celebrate with. I also have a big group of friends and they are really important in my life. And of course, now, my wife. I'm newly-married and to have her in my life is a big blessing.

But, all the coaches for me in the national team, to be speaking collectively in the past, since David (Davis) came, (Roberto) Parrondo and now (Juan Carlos) Pastor, all of them impacted us in huge ways. We learned something from everybody and even to this day, we still talk about them all the time. If they are listening to us, then I hope that they are proud, because they taught us everything we know.

ihf.info: How have you kept at the top for so long? What do you do physically, tactically or mentally to stay there?

Yahia Omar: The hardest thing in sports is to keep yourself motivated, because after the first time for everything it’s always really nice and you're motivated, but after a while you're doing the same thing every day and it gets a little bit boring.

Now, I just changed to a new club (Paris Saint-Germain) and this is really nice because I needed this new motivation. I needed to play in new arenas. My biggest motivation is always, and my father told me this, that always in every arena, there's going to be somebody new that’s just heard of you and never saw you play, so I always want to prove myself.

I see in the new staff members eyes that they have confidence in me, but they have never seen me live in the court, so I always want to show them what I have. 

But this is for all of the fans and all of the people who support me too; I always want to show them how good I can be, how much I can win. For me, everybody has to think about what keeps him motivated. I'm a competitive person and I'd like to show the world how good I can be.

ihf.info: Do you still have the same feeling in 2025 as you did back in 2017 when you pull on the national team shirt, hear your national anthem and see your flag at an IHF Men’s Championship?

Yahia Omar: It’s still the same: it's a big responsibility, but it gets better every time. You know, in the beginning you were just happy to be there, then you’re happy to play a part, but now, you're leading the team. It's always really nice and I feel the bigger the role you have, the better it gets. 

ihf.info: Why do you love handball?

Yahia Omar: A lot of things. Since the beginning of when I played handball, I always got compliments about how I do some skills, how I shoot, how I'm left-handed and how I'm tall. I like receiving these things and feeling special, you know? I want to hear it every day until I retire, so I want to push every day to be a great player so that everybody sees me and says something nice.