Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu yesterday expressed hopes of surfing clinching the country's first medal during the 2026 South Asian Games set to be hosted in Japan.
Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu expressed hopes of surfing clinching the country's first ever medal during the 2026 Asian Games set to be hosted in Japan.
A ceremony was held yesterday to launch the opening of the Asian Surfing Championships in host island, Kaafu atoll Thulusdhoo, located approximately 27.2 km from the capital Male' City in central Maldives. The Asian Championships, which is set to run until August 27 will act as a qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games, where Maldivian surfers will be participating in qualifiers for the first time.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held in Thulusdhoo School, Minister Rafiu shared several hopes for the Asian Championships, further assuring he harbors no doubts on Maldives qualifying for the Asian Games' surfing event.
"Since our surfers have been winning medals in the Asian Surfing Championships, I have no doubt that our athletes will give their best to qualify for the Asian Games," said Minister Rafiu.
Maldives has been competing in the Asian Games for 42 years with participation in the largest multisport tournament tallying to 11 times thus far. However, the country has yet to secure a single medal from any event of the tournament.
Rafiu today appealed to athletes to end this streak of claiming zero medals at the Asian Games.
He expressed hopes that surfing will become the country's first sport to secure a spot at the tournament's medal podium.
"I believe that surfing could be the first sport from Maldives to achieve a podium finish [medal] in the Asian Games." said Rafiu.
Riding the waves this tournament is not solely for the purpose of personal gain and success, he added, instructing athletes to surf with courage, pride and sportsmanship.
"As you take to the waves, remember that you represent the country as a whole," he said.
The athlete events of the championship is set to commence tomorrow, with performances from Maldives' men's senior and junior teams alongside the women's team also ensured.
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