Ammadey advances to third round with heat win at Asian Surfing Championships

Ahmed Ageel (Ammadey), has advanced to the third round of the men’s open category at the Asian Surfing Championships, currently taking place in Tamil Nadu, India.

Representing Maldives, Ammadey secured first place in the 11th heat of the opening round with a score of 7.67 points, ahead of Julien Speck from Singapore and Lebanon’s Alfred Badr.

Speaking after his heat, Ammadey acknowledged the challenging wave.

“The wave was difficult, but all athletes will give their best. Everyone will be brave; please support us,” he said.

Two other Maldivian surfers, Hood Ahmed (Hubz) and Ismail Rasheed (Smiley), both finished second in their respective heats and will need to compete again in the second round to qualify for round three. Only heat winners move forward to the third round.

Hubz scored 6.76 points in the sixth heat, finishing behind Korea’s Jung Uyeon. Singapore’s Anig Kailani came third.

Smiley competed in the second heat, earning 7.50 points, narrowly missing first place to Malaysia’s Lucas Santiago. Korea’s Jun Seoyun took third.

Maldives is also competing in the women’s open and men’s junior categories. The women’s team includes Mariyam Rahil Naseem (Aya), Rishtha Shujau, and Shaziya Saeed (Saazu), while the male junior surfers are Yasin Ahmed Nashid, Kayan Abdulla Areef, and Yoosuf Kayan Hamdhan Zaki.

The team is coached by Hussain Areef (Ibu), who previously won bronze medals in the men’s open category at the first two editions of the Asian Surfing Championships.

This marks the first time both male junior and female surfers from the Maldives are competing overseas alongside the national team. It is also the first occasion the country has fielded more than one female athlete at an international surfing competition.

The Asian Surfing Championships were first held in 2019 in China and have taken place in Kaafu atoll Thulusdhoo, for the past two years.