Captain Ashraf Mahrous, 37, nicknamed "Ashraf Kapunga", founder of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR", is seen with a female wrestler after the end of the public fights at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) - When a high school in the northern Egyptian city of Ismailia hosted a pro wrestling event, the crowd spilled over onto the roofs of neighboring buildings.
Pro wrestling, a popular entertainment form in the U.S., mixes theatrical performance with athletics and is gaining traction in Egypt where thousands came to watch the strong men wearing face paint do battle in Ismailia.
The program was run by Ashraf Mahrous, the 37-year-old founder of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers.
Aya Hanid, 22, a member of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR", poses with colleagues from the team before public fights at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
The martial arts coach learned about pro wrestling from watching American, European and Japanese wrestlers on TV. He started organizing matches in 2013, he said, but it was only about two years ago that large audiences of more than 1,000 people started showing up.
He says he funds the wrestling program from his own savings, hoping the program can become profitable and also more international once he has found a sponsor. Entrance is free.
"The dream of my life is to go international," said Mahrous who also goes by his nickname Captain Ashraf Kapunga.
Androw Tharwat, 27, nicknamed "Malk El Roaab" meaning "King of Horror, a members of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR", paints his face with at a class of the Abu Sultan High School, before a public fight in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Momen Hassan Ali, a wrestler nicknamed "al-Magnoun," meaning "the crazy one", said a day of training starts around 7:30 a.m. and doesn't finish before the Maghrib prayer, which takes place right after sunset.
The wrestlers performing in Friday's match were all men, but the program is the first in Egypt to also allow women to participate.
"Girls of Egypt can do anything," said 22-year-old Aya Hanid, one of the female wrestlers. "Not just get a degree and then get married and stay at home."
Mohamed Samier, 28, nicknamed "El Namer", meaning "Tiger", a members of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR", reacts before his public fight at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. Picture taken October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
(Writing by Lena Masri; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Patrick Johnston)
Abdallah Gamal, 21, a member of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR", nicknamed "Al Wetwat", meaning "the bat", paints face at the class of the Abu Sultan High School before a public fight in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMomen Hassan Ali, nicknamed "al-Magnoun," meaning "the crazy one", a members of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR", paints his face at the class of the Abu Sultan High School, before a public fight in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMohamed Samier, 28, a member of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" nicknamed "El Namer", meaning "Tiger", reacts during his public fight against Androw Tharwat at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshCaptain Ashraf Mahrous, 37, nicknamed "Ashraf Kapunga", founder of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR", introduces the public fights at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA member of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" shows an ID card while a ring is being build, prior a public fight at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMembers of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" attend a training at the class of the Abu Sultan High School before public fights in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMembers of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" Momen Hassan Ali, nicknamed "al-Magnoun", meaning "the crazy one", takes a selfie with Androw Tharwat, nicknamed "Malk El Roaab", meaning "King of Horror", at the class of the Abu Sultan High School before public fights in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMembers of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" pose for a photograph at a class of the Abu Sultan High School, before a public fight in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018.REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshA member of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" attends a training at a class of the Abu Sultan High School, before a public fight in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMembers of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" pose for a photograph at the class of the Abu Sultan High School before a public fight in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMember of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" Mohamed Samier, 28, a wrestler nicknamed "El Namer", meaning "Tiger", in action with Androw Tharwat, 27, nicknamed "Malk El Roaab", meaning "King of Horror", during a public fight at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMember of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" Mohamed Samier, 28, a wrestler nicknamed "El Namer", meaning "Tiger", in action with Androw Tharwat, 27, nicknamed "Malk El Roaab", meaning "King of Horror", during a public fight at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMember of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" Mohamed Samier, 28, a wrestler nicknamed "El Namer", meaning "Tiger", in action with Androw Tharwat, 27, nicknamed "Malk El Roaab", meaning "King of Horror", during a public fight at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMembers of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" apply makeup at the class of the Abu Sultan High School, before public fights in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah DalshMembers of the Egyptian Arab Federation of Professional Wrestlers "EWR" Mohamed Samier, 28, a wrestler nicknamed "El Namer", meaning "Tiger", in action with Androw Tharwat, 27, a wrestler nicknamed "Malk El Roaab", meaning "King of Horror", during a public fight at the Abu Sultan High School in Ismailiya, northern of Cairo, Egypt October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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