Omar Assar: the Egyptian who took Africa to the Olympic last eight
Omar Assar is an Egyptian table tennis player born in 1991, a right-handed shakehand player. He finished 5th at Tokyo 2020, won five African singles titles and reached No. 13 in the world. In October 2026 he is No. 27.
Omar Assar has been the biggest name in African table tennis for the last decade. In 2025 he won a record fifth singles title at the African Championships. This page covers Assar's career, titles and playing style.
Who is Omar Assar
Omar Assar was born on 22 July 1991 in Desouk, Egypt. He is right-handed and plays the shakehand grip. He is 1.94 m tall, unusual in the sport.
Omar Assar's titles
| Competition | Results |
|---|---|
| Olympics | 5th in singles at Tokyo 2020 (lost to Ma Long in the quarter-finals) |
| African Championships | Five singles titles, the latest in 2025 |
| African Games | Singles gold in 2011, 2015 and 2023, plus team titles |
| Mediterranean Games | Singles gold in 2013 |
| Ranking | Career high: No. 13 (May 2024) |
Career highlights
Assar played the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympics. In Tokyo he reached the quarter-finals and lost to Ma Long, finishing 5th. He is also the first Egyptian to reach the quarter-finals at a World Championships. On 15 October 2025 he beat fellow Egyptian Youssef Abdelaziz in the African Championships final in Tunis for a record fifth singles title. In October 2026 he is world No. 27. See the table tennis world ranking.
Playing style
Assar plays the shakehand grip and stands out for his height. Learn the difference between the grips and the playing styles. What defines him:
- Long reach, at 1.94 m, which changes how he covers the table.
- Consistency: he has won the African singles for over a decade.
- Continental leadership, with singles and team titles in Africa.
Recent results on the tour
| Year | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 9 |
| Total | 6 | 9 |
| L | WTT Champions Montpellier 2026 2026-10-27 | Men's singles Round of 32 | An Jaehyun KOR vs Omar Assar EGY 3-2 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 13-11 |
| L | China Smash 2026 2026-10-04 | Men's singles Round of 64 | Omar Assar EGY vs Jang Woojin KOR 2-3 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 10-12, 2-11 |
| L | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-19 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Flavien Coton FRA vs Omar Assar EGY 3-0 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 |
| W | WTT Star Contender Astana 2026 - President’s Cup 2026-09-18 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Adrien Rassenfosse BEL vs Omar Assar EGY 2-3 4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12 |
| L | WTT Champions Macao 2026 2026-09-08 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Omar Assar EGY vs Chen Yuanyu CHN 0-3 9-11, 7-11, 9-11 |
| L | Europe Smash - Sweden 2026 2026-08-15 | Men's singles Quarterfinals | Darko Jorgic SLO vs Omar Assar EGY 4-2 12-10, 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4 |
| W | Europe Smash - Sweden 2026 2026-08-14 | Men's singles Round of 16 | Omar Assar EGY vs Jonathan Groth DEN 3-2 13-11, 11-9, 5-11, 9-11, 11-9 |
| W | Europe Smash - Sweden 2026 2026-08-13 | Men's singles Round of 32 | Csaba Andras HUN vs Omar Assar EGY 0-3 11-13, 8-11, 5-11 |
Source: WTT official results. Updated October 31, 2026. worldtabletennis.com
Frequently asked questions
Who is Omar Assar?
He is an Egyptian player born in 1991 in Desouk, right-handed, using the shakehand grip.
What is Omar Assar's highest ranking?
World No. 13, in May 2024. In October 2026 he is No. 27.
Did Omar Assar win an Olympic medal?
No. His best result is 5th place at Tokyo 2020.
How many African titles does Omar Assar have?
Five African Championships singles titles, the latest in 2025.