Seif Eissa has risen to number one in the world rankings ©Getty Images

The Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) has praised taekwondo star Seif Eissa after he became the first from the country to reach number one in the world rankings.

Twenty-four-year-old Eissa is the new world number one in the men's under-80 kilograms division after swapping places in the standings with Italy's Simone Alessio.

"The Board of Directors of the Olympic Committee expresses sincere congratulations to Seif Issa," the EOC said in a statement.

Eissa won bronze at the World Championships in Guadalajara in Mexico last month, after losing a semi-final bout to Spain's eventual silver medallist Andoni Cintado.

Seif Eissa has won bronze at both the World Championships and Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Seif Eissa has won bronze at both the World Championships and Olympic Games ©Getty Images

He also won bronze at last year's delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics after he came through the repechage stage, ending with a victory over Norway's Richard Ordemann.

In July, Eissa won gold at the Mediterranean Games in Oran in Algeria, while he was crowned as African champion last year.