Male' Maldives (August 13) - Team Maldives delegation has returned home from the Paris Olympics and was welcomed in the VIP lounge by Honorable Minister of Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu.
A welcome event was held at Velana International Airport for the delegation, with the Sports Minister, Commissioner of Sports Mohamed Tholal, and several key figures from national sports associations in attendance.
Maldives participated in four different sports at this year’s Olympics, marking the first time the country has competed in four disciplines. The sports included Table Tennis, Badminton, Swimming, and Athletics.
In Athletics, Ibadulla Adam competed in the 100m race. Fathimath Dheema, the first-ever qualified Olympian from Maldives, participated in the qualifying rounds of the women’s singles Table Tennis event. Fathimath Nabaha competed in the group stage of the Badminton singles event. Additionally, Aishath Ulya Shaig and Mohamed Aan Hussain took part in the 50m Freestyle swimming event.
Ali Rasheed, President of the Table Tennis Association and member of the Maldives Olympic Committee Executive Committee, served as the Chef de Mission for the Maldives contingent.
Dheema and Ibadulla served as the flag bearers for Maldives at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, a historic event held along the River Seine in Paris.
Maldives has been participating in the Summer Olympics since 1988. Except for Dheema, all other Maldivian athletes who have competed in the Olympics received tripartite invitations from the International Olympic Committee and the respective sports federations.
