Male, Maldives (September 6) – Rising star Ibadulla Adam emerged victorious in the National Championship's 100m race, defeating the Maldives' most successful individual athlete, Hassan Saaid.
This loss marks Saaid's first defeat in the 100m event at the National Championship since 2013.
In the final, Ibadulla clocked 10.59 seconds, with Saaid finishing second at 10.67 seconds, and Mohamed Minhaal Shamin taking third with a time of 10.74 seconds.
Despite missing last year's major competitions—the Indian Ocean Island Games in Madagascar and the Asian Games in China—due to injury, Ibadulla made a remarkable comeback, showcasing his best performance and earning a spot to represent the Maldives in the Paris Olympics this year.
Ibadulla dedicated his win to his grandmother, calling her his greatest inspiration in an interview with "Gaafu."
Saaid, who remains the current record holder for the 100m in the Maldives with a 10.33-second mark set in 2016, congratulated Ibadulla on his achievement at the National Championship.
In his social media post, Saaid praised Ibadulla's determination and professionalism, emphasizing the importance of promising athletes for the future of Maldives athletics.
In the women’s 100m race, Ahna Nizar claimed victory with a time of 12.33 seconds.
Aishath Shaba Saleem secured second place with 12.40 seconds, while former winner Aishath Himna Hassan took third with a time of 12.58 seconds.
The current national record holder, Ru Ya, who recently suffered an injury at the World U20 Championship in Lima, Peru, did not compete.
Ru Ya, who set the women’s 100m record in the Maldives with a 12.02-second finish in Jamaica four months ago, remains the fastest sprinter in the nation.
