Nine-year-old Aliya Latheef of the Maldives has secured first place in the women's open category at the Surfing Championship Arugam Bay Series held by the Surfing Federation in Sri Lanka.

Competing in the tournament held in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka, Aliya competed against experienced athletes and claimed first place in the overall category.

She achieved this prestigious position after defeating Sri Lanka's current junior champion MD Sayuni Anjana, who was considered the favorite for the category.

Anjana is older than Aliya and is an athlete ahead in terms of experience. She secured second place in this tournament. Third place was won by Camille Attal of Switzerland.

This achievement marks the first gold medal won by Maldivian athlete Aliya from a major international tournament in her surfing career.

Last year, competing in the first "National Junior Surfing Championship" held by the Maldives Surfing Association (MSA), Aliya secured first place in the under-18 category at just eight years of age.

Known by the nickname "Little Saltwater Princess," Aliya started surfing when she was only three years old. Aliya's mother is also a surfer.