Gaborone, Botswana: Maldives' badminton stars, twin sisters Aminath Nabeeha (Naby) and Fathimath Nabaha (Naba), are set to make history as they prepare to face each other in the final of the Botswana International 2024 Women’s Singles.
This marks a historic moment, as it will be the first time Maldives players reach the final of a Badminton World Federation (BWF) sanctioned tournament. Previously, Maldives has participated in three BWF-sanctioned tournament finals, but all were doubles events.
All the Maldives players competing in the Botswana International 2024 are representing the country under the banner of Revival Sports.
In Botswana International's women's singles semi-finals, Naba triumphed over Azerbaijan’s Hajar Nuriyeva with a dominant 21-15, 21-15 win, while Naby defeated another Azerbaijani player, Era Maftuha, in a thrilling 2-1 match (21-12, 20-22, 21-08).
The twin sisters, who recently clinched a gold medal in the Zambia International Women’s Doubles by overcoming the Sri Lankan duo of Hasini Ambalangodage and Hasara Wijayarathne, faced a setback in Botswana. In the semi-finals, the Sri Lankan pair gained the upper hand, defeating Naba and Naby 21-14, 21-18.
However, there is more success for Maldives in the tournament, with another Maldivian pair—Naba and Zayan Zaki—advancing to the final of the Botswana International Mixed Doubles event. Naba and Zayan, who were gold medalists in a 2019 BWF-sanctioned tournament, won their semi-final match against Azerbaijan’s Jahid Alhasanov and Hajar Nuriyeva 21-13, 21-18.
In the men’s doubles semi-final, Zayan and Nibal Ahmed’s pair fell short against Azerbaijan’s Agil Gabilov and Dicky Dwi Pangestu, losing 21-16, 21-08.
