Squash star stabbed

CAIRO, MARCH 21: Egyptian squash star Ahmed Barada, ranked three in the World, was stabbed in the back by an unidentified assailant late o...

CAIRO, MARCH 21: Egyptian squash star Ahmed Barada, ranked three in the World, was stabbed in the back by an unidentified assailant late on Sunday, but doctors said on Monday his life was not in danger.

Essam Shelbaya, the doctor treating Barada, said the 22-year-old Barada’s condition was stable and he had left the intensive care unit of Cairo’s Salam Hospital.

“He is suffering from two deep wounds in the back near the spinal cord,” Shelbaya said. “It may take two weeks to treat barada’s injury and he can resume training after six weeks.”

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Barada was returning home from a friend’s engagement party and had been switching on the lights in his villa when he was attacked.

The assailant ran off in the dark. The motive for the assault was not immediately clear.

Sayyid said doctors had told Barada he would not be able to take part in the Masters tournament due to open on March 26 in the Red Sea Resort of Hurghada. It is the first time Egypt has hosted the tournament.

Barada, suffering a foot injury, conceded defeat to World No 1 Peter Nicol of Scotland, in the final of the Esso Flanders Squash Open in Antwerp, Belgium, two weeks ago.

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Nicol beat Barada in Egypt in September to lift the World Open Trophy for the first time.