Youth star Khalil (EGY) rounds off stunning year by being named Champion of United Nations initiative

Farida Khalil of Egypt has enjoyed a season beyond anyone’s dreams — even those of a 12-year-old. Now one of Modern Pentathlon’s shooting stars has rounded off a remarkable year with yet another honour. 

Khalil, crowned UIPM U17 world champion on home soil in Alexandria (EGY) earlier this year, has been named as a champion of the Egyptian version of the global United Nations ‘Generation Unlimited’ initiative. 

Records tumbled at the feet of Khalil this year as she took the individual U17 crown at the age of just 12 and then took Women’s Relay silver at the UIPM 2023 U19 World Championships. She followed that up with gold medals at the UIPM 2023 Laser Run World Championships in Bath (GBR) and the UIPM 2023 Biathle-Triathle World Championships in Bali (INA).

Launched by the UN Secretary General in 2018 under the UNICEF umbrella, Generation Unlimited aims to connect the world's 1.8 billion young people to opportunities for skilling, working and social impact. The Egyptian branch of the initiative is called Shaba Balad, which means Country’s Youth. 

“Farida Khalil has been appointed as the Champion for the global United Nations program,” Shaba Balad announced. “This young Egyptian athlete is not only excelling in her field of play, but she is also dedicated to finding solutions and opportunities for the youth in her society and Egypt as a whole as her appointment as the Champion for the Global United Nations program.”

The announcement was attended by Dr Ashraf Sobhy, Egyptian Minister for Youth & Sports, along with UN and UNICEF representatives at a special ceremony on November 30 in the Gezirah Youth Centre in Cairo (EGY).