The spirit of Maldivian surfers, who will contest in the Asian Surfing Championships which acts as a debut stage for the Asian Games is particularly prominent this year.
Captain of the local surfing team, Ahmed Agil (Ammadey) and female surfer, Shaziya Saeed (Shaz) proclaimed a question to members of the national team while stepping down from stage after concluding the sand ceremony of the Asian Surfing Championships' opening event.
"We are?"
Without delay, the surfers stood from their chairs and yelled, "Maldivians" in response.
This year's Asian Surfing Championship marks the second successive instance of the tournament held in Randha Raalhugandu (Cokes) in Kaafu atoll Thulusdhoo located in central Maldives, with Agil once more serving as the flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Championship.
The second local female surfer to contest in an international surfing tournament of the Asian Surfing Federation (ASF), Shaziya joined Agil on stage as sand pourers.
The first female surfer to represent Maldives at an international scene was Mariyam Rahil Naseem (Aya) who competed last year. Alongside Rahil, Shaziya is also set to compete this year to demonstrate her talents as a female surfer.
The Championship, which will display performances of 100 surfers from 20 countries is set to run until August 27.
The tournament this year relatively stands out from previous years as it acts as a qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games hosted by Japan.
Although not many local surfers were able to compete in the Championship due to its debut as a qualifier, deliberations proceeded between the Maldivian Surfing Association (MSA) and the ASF concluded with participation ensured for two local men's teams.
They are the country's A and B teams with the A team surfers, included in the opens category alone standing a chance of securing a slot in the Asian Games.
With fourteen surfers representing Maldives, the team this year is led by Hussain Areef (Ibu), the nation's most accomplished surfer who guided the local team into clinching bronze in the opens category of the preceding two Championships.
The local teams representing Maldives during this year's Asian Surfing Championships are:
- Men's Open A team: Ahmed Aqil (Captain), Hoodh Ahmed, Ismail Miglal
- Men's Open B team: Hassan Nasih, Ismail Rasheed (Smiley), Ahmed Hisham Shaheem
- Women's Open: Aya Naseem, Shaziya Saeed
- Men's Junior A team: Sayyid Salaahuddeen (Captain), Yasin Ahmed Nashid, Yoosuf Kayan Hamdhaan Zaki
- Men's Junior B team: Kayan Abdulla Areef, Ahmed Zayaan, Mohamed Inaan Abdul Hannaan
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