Maldives' national female badminton team, ended the eight-year win streak held by reigning gold medalist Mauritius on Saturday, at the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) 2019.
Represented by Fathimath Nabaaha, Neela Najeeb and Maisa Fathuhulla, Maldives managed to secure a 3-2 victory in the team women's event against Mauritius, reigning champions since 2011.
-Singles-
MDV: Nabaaha - 2 / Mauritius - 0
MDV: Neela - 2 / Mauritius - 1
MDV: Nabaaha - 1 / Mauritius - 2
-Doubles-
Nabaaha and Maisa - 2 / Mauritius - 0
Nabaaha and Neela - 1 / Mauritius - 2
During Maldives' first female team event, the national team conceded to Reunion, while Mauritius emerged victorious against the Maldivian men's team.
The best performance for the men's category came from Mohamed Ajfan, who trumped the IOIG 2015 gold medalist from Mauritius.
Despite losing the opportunity to contest for gold in the women's category, the team remains optimistic about the possibility of a silver placement.
In 2015, Maldives acquired silver in the men's category of Badminton, while the women's team secured bronze.
Although IOIG is the second international competition the country has competed in, the games are widely recognized as being the starting point of the country's success in sports.
Maldives achieved medals in table tennis and badminton in the 1979 IOIG held in Reunion Island. In the latest games held at Reunion, Maldives brought home nine out of ten targeted medals, the most notable being runner Hassan Saaid winning gold - the nation's first in a multi-sports event.
In order to achieve the aim of bagging 15 medals this year, Maldives Olympic Association, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, and various sports associations facilitated special training for the teams.
The government has also thrown its hat into the ring for the opportunity to host the 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games games. Currently, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid are touring the Indian Ocean as a Special Envoy of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, seeking support for the Maldives' bid.
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