Meet Egyptian wheelchair racer Hoda Elshorbagy

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

House of Representatives refers FY 2026-27 draft budget to Planning Committee

Good afternoon, ladies and gents, and happy almost weekend. In line with the weather, we’ve got a brisk and breezy issue for you this afternoon. We’re kicking things off with the incredible story of Hoda Elshorbagy, an Egyptian wheelchair racer who taught herself to race via YouTube and just cracked the top 10 at the Boston Marathon. We also take a look at a book that dissects the art of storytelling to help you master your own narrative.

As usual, first up, the news…

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

📍 House refers draft budget to Planning Committee: House Speaker Hisham Badawi referred the FY 2026-27 draft budget to the House Planning and Budget Committee for review. The committee will prepare a report on the bill ahead of its final approval before the end of the current fiscal year in June.

What to expect from the budget: The budget is anchored by projected revenues of EGP 4 tn — driven by an EGP 3.5 tn tax receipt target — and EGP 5.1 tn in expenditures. The plan aims for a 5% primary surplus and a narrowed 4.9% overall deficit, down from the 6%+ projected for the end of the current fiscal year. Central to the state’s de-risking strategy is a push to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio down to 78% by June 2027 while trimming external debt by USD 2 bn annually.

^^ We’ll have more on this story in tomorrow’s edition of EnterpriseAM.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

🌐 Dominating front pages this afternoon is Iran’s seizure of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, coming shortly after US President Donald Trump announced an extended ceasefire. The UK had also reported earlier that a container ship came under fire near Omani waters. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy stated it carried out the seizures for maritime violations and escorted the vessels to Iranian shores.

The extended ceasefire, prompted by Pakistani mediation, still includes the US Navy blockade on Iranian trade, Trump said in a statement on Truth Social. Meanwhile, Iran has not agreed to the extension and stated it will not attend further talks with the US.

^^Read more on: Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Financial Times.

** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today’s EnterpriseAM:

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly addressed the House of Representatives yesterday on the fallout from the conflict in Iran, signaling the Cabinet is bracing for what could be an extended crisis;
NBE and Banque Misr raised interest rates on three-year fixed-interest certificates of deposit by 125 bps. NBE’s Platinum Certificate and Banque Misr’s Al Qimma Certificate will each offer monthly rates of 17.25%;
Private equity firm B Investments is entering Egypt’s higher education sector by pouring EGP 560 mn into the European Universities in Egypt hub;
The Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the American University in Cairo was just named this year’s top business school in Africa by Paris-based global higher education ranking agency Eduniversal.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- Temperatures are back on the up in C-town, with the mercury set to peak at 30°C, with a low of 19°C, according to our favorite weather app.

Meet the Egyptian wheelchair racer that won over Boston (and our hearts)

🏆 The 130th Boston Marathon took place a couple of days ago on Monday, 20 April. Approximately 30k runners from around the world finished the iconic race this year — among them, 35-year-old Hoda Elshorbagy, an Egyptian wheelchair racer from a small village near Mansoura. You may not have heard of Elshorbagy, and we hadn’t either until her remarkable story was recently brought to our attention.

Elshorbagy secured ninth place in the women’s wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon. Clocking a time of 1:45:22, Elshorbagy’s performance places her firmly among the ranks of top athletes worldwide. Her admirable achievement this week is the culmination of a decade spent defying odds and engineering a career in a sport that effectively did not exist for women in Egypt.

Elshorbagy’s story begins with some medical misfortune. A botched polio vaccination administered at eight months old left her tragically paralyzed. Over the next 16 years, she underwent 13 surgeries that resulted in restoring some of her mobility. She was eventually able to stand and walk with crutches, but that wasn’t enough for Elshorbagy.

While still a student in Egypt, the itch for athletic pursuit began to nag at her. She picked up weightlifting and discus throwing alongside her university studies — placing first in both disciplines on a national level in 2011 and 2014. By 2016, a televised broadcast of wheelchair racing at the Rio Paralympics captured her attention. “I decided from that day that I will do this sport no matter what the obstacle is, and I will go through it and I will reach my goal,” Elshorbagy told Runner’s World.

Elshorbagy had to self-learn the mechanics of the sport via YouTube videos. Coaching for track events was non-existent for disabled female athletes in Egypt when Elshorbagy began. She had to take English courses so she could better comprehend technical advice from the international champions she found online. Her initial equipment was a patchwork of locally built DIY gear. A custom-welded frame served as her first racing chair and her first pair of gloves were handmade by a friend.

The streets of Mansoura served as Elshorbagy’s initial training ground. Those who saw her on the streets and highways didn’t quite know what to make of her, and weren’t always supportive. “I got really upset, but after that, I took it as a chance to spread awareness about what I’m doing and teach them about the sport of wheelchair racing,” Elshorbagy told the runners’ magazine. She deliberately chose a pink racing chair that eventually became her signature tool for visibility, designed to raise awareness about the presence of disabled people in public spaces.

Many of the YouTube videos that Elshorbagy consumed featured wheelchair racing coach Adam Bleakney at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After years of training and working with other international coaches whose attention she was able to garner, Elshorbagy relocated in 2023 to the University of Illinois, a global hub for disability sports, where she is currently completing a degree in kinesiology and training under Bleakney.

What’s next for Elshorbagy? She looks forward to continuing to make history and one day representing Egypt at the Paralympic Games. Raising awareness about her sport in Egypt and the Middle East is also a priority for Elshorbagy, who says she wants to show her “country and the world how a person with a disability can accomplish what seems impossible.”

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

The science behind why we love stories with Will Storr

💡 Why are we so drawn to stories? In his 2019 bestseller The Science of Storytelling, Will Storr argues that humans are fundamentally storytellers and unpacks the deeper mechanisms of storytelling through a compelling neuroscientific lens.

What to expect: Becoming a “better storyteller” is a well-worn topic in creative writing, but Storr takes it back to first principles — the brain itself. The journalist argues that our instinct to gossip, narrate daily life, and connect people, places, and emotions is hardwired into us.

Across detailed chapters, Storr explores our psychological pull toward change, curiosity, and character development, while dissecting the role of culture, setting, and other key literary elements that shape how stories come to be.

What we liked: You don’t have to be a writer or storyteller of any kind to enjoy this book. Storr makes it clear that his work goes beyond advice for aspiring writers — it’s a study of human behavior at its core. In almost 150 pages, he draws thought-provoking links between brain science and narrative that will reshape how you view stories.

He keeps his explanations engaging, weaving in examples throughout from literary classics to contemporary bestsellers, and grounding his ideas in personal anecdotes that feel instantly relatable.

Our verdict: While the book can occasionally feel a little repetitive, Storr’s writing remains refreshingly clear and accessible throughout. The Science of Storytelling offers a compelling read with striking insights that are likely to linger the next time you read a novel, watch a movie, or simply observe everyday life.

Blending psychology, history, philosophy, and the craft of writing, it’s a fascinating look at our brains and their undeniable appetite for great novels and memorable stories. Even if you’re not an aspiring writer when you start, you just might be by the time you finish.

WHERE TO GET IT- The paperback is available at Diwan. You can find the eBook on Amazon and Kobo.

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Manchester City pressures vies for lead as Barça nears finish line

⚽ In the Nile League: Egyptian Premier League action continues today with two matchups. Al Masry faces Enppi at 5pm, while Smouha hosts Ceramica Cleopatra at 8pm. The games will be broadcast on ON Sport and ON Sport Max.

In the Premier League: Manchester City travels to face Burnley to kick off matchweek 34. The Citizens currently sit in second place with 67 points, holding a prime window to pull level with leaders Arsenal, who seem to be struggling with their usual late-season collapse. Kick-off is at 9pm on beIN Sports 3.

Over in La Liga: League leaders Barcelona host Celta Vigo tonight at 9:30pm on beIN Sports 1. Barça (79 points) aim to tighten their grip on the title and widen the gap over rivals Real Madrid (73 points), who secured a 2-1 victory against Alaves yesterday.

Other major European league fixtures we’re watching:

PSG vs. Nantes — Ligue 1, 7pm, beIN Sports 1;
Elche vs. Atlético Madrid — La Liga, 7pm, beIN Sports 6;
Real Sociedad vs. Getafe — La Liga, 8pm, beIN Sports 8;
Bournemouth vs. Leeds United — Premier League — 9pm, beIN Sports 4.

🏆 Cup face-offs

Coppa Italia: Atalanta takes on Lazio in the second leg of the semifinals at 9pm, streaming on Shahid. Following a 2-2 draw in the first leg, the tie is wide open. The victor will face Inter Milan, who advanced to the final after defeating Como 3-2 on Tuesday.

Coupe de France: Simultaneously, Strasbourg faces Nice in the French Cup semifinals. The victor will meet Lens in the final, following their 4-1 W over Toulouse. Catch the action on beIN Sports 5.

In Germany: A heavyweight DFB-Pokal clash awaits as Bayer Leverkusen hosts Bayern Munich in the first semifinal of the tournament. The match kicks off at 8:45pm.

Catch comedy show Ain Gamal at Al Manara Theater

🎙️ Comedian Omar El Gamal is set for his biggest Ain Gamal show in Cairo yet at Al Manara Theater this Friday, 24 April. The show promises a few surprises, sharp humor, and crowd-favorite jokes. Doors open at 7pm — tickets are available on Ticketsmarché.

What the markets are doing on 22 April 2026

The EGX30 fell marginally at today’s close on turnover of EGP 12.0 bn (71.6% above the 90-day average). International investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 24.2% YTD.

In the green: Raya Holding (+9.1%), Heliopolis Housing (+6.8%), and Qalaa Holdings (+6.0%).

In the red: Orascom Development (-2.5%), GB Corp (-2.0%), and CIB (-2.0%).

THE ENTERPRISEPM ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

🗓️ APRIL

7 April - 8 June (Tuesday-Monday): Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at District 5 by Marakez in New Cairo.

16 April - 30 June (Thursday-Tuesday): Early bird registration for The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon.

23 April (Thursday): Hisham Kharma at Cairo Opera House main hall.

24 April (Friday): Daylight saving time begins.

24 April (Friday): Medhat Saleh at Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir Square.

24 April (Friday): Ain Gamal at Al Manara Main Hall.

24 April (Friday): Marwan Pablo at Music Arena in Antoniads, Alexandria.

24-25 April (Friday-Saturday): GEM Family Weekend at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

25 April (Saturday): Sinai Liberation Day.

25 April (Sunday): The Marketers League at The Grand Egyptian Museum.

27 April - 2 May (Monday-Saturday): Alexandria Short Film Festival.

29 April (Wednesday): El Leila El Kebira at Boom Room, Madinaty.

29 April (Wednesday): Massar Egbari & Menna Hussein at Tenaya, Maadi.

30 April (Thursday): International Jazz Day at Theatro Arkan.

MAY

1 May (Friday): Labor Day.

1 May (Friday): El Hekaya: Amr Diab at AUC Football Field.

1-2 May (Friday-Saturday): Cotzl’s Step Into the Light bazaar at Al Horreya Garden, Zamalek.

7-9 May (Thursday-Saturday): Sandbox Festival in El Gouna.

7-10 May (Thursday-Sunday): ASEEL Egyptian Horse Festival at the Armed Forces Equestrian Club, Nasr City.

9 May (Saturday): Cairo Vintage Souq at Al Zohriya Garden, Zamalek.

15 May (Friday): Angham at El Arena.

15 May (Friday): Amr Selim at Theatro Arkan.

16 May (Saturday): Bazet Menny with Waleed Moghazy at Theatro Arkan.

22 May (Friday): Adam Port at Salah El Din Citadel.

26 May (Tuesday): Arafat’s Day.

26 May (Tuesday): Andrea Bocelli at the City of Arts and Culture in the New Administrative Capital.

27-30 May (Wednesday-Saturday): Matsagharonash at Theatro Arkan.

27-29 May (Wednesday-Friday): Eid El Adha (TBC).

JUNE

16 June (Tuesday): Islamic New Year.

30 June (Tuesday): June 30th Revolution.

JULY

1 July - 2 November (Wednesday-Monday): General registration for The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon.

23 July (Thursday): July 23rd Revolution 1952.

24 July (Friday): Adriatique at the North Coast.

AUGUST

21 August (Friday): Black Coffee at Cubix North Coast.

25 August (Thursday): Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.

OCTOBER

1-4 October (Thursday-Sunday): She Arts festival across Cairo and Alexandria.

6 October (Tuesday): Armed Forces Day.

24 October (Saturday): Blue 25th Anniversary Tour at New Capital.

NOVEMBER

28 November (Saturday): Shakira at the Pyramids of Giza.

DECEMBER

11-12 December (Friday-Saturday): TheMarakezPyramids Half Marathon at the Pyramids of Giza.

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