Malé, Maldives: Ishfan Mohamed (Ippa) is set to become the next President of the Badminton Association of Maldives (BAM), after emerging as the sole nominee for the position ahead of the association’s Electoral Congress on November 22.

In accordance with BAM’s electoral regulations, uncontested positions are automatically confirmed without the need for a vote. As, Ishfan was the only candidate for the presidency, his appointment will be formalised during the upcoming congress.

This month, BAM also introduced significant structural reforms, including a reconstitution of the Steering Committee. Under the new framework, the committee will now consist of eight members, the president, two vice presidents, four representatives, and one athlete member. Notably, the posts of general secretary and treasurer have been removed from the committee, with their duties reassigned to enhance transparency and accountability.

At the close of nominations, each Steering Committee position had just one candidate. Ishfan was nominated by Maziya Sports and Recreation, while the two vice presidential roles will be filled by veteran umpires Ahmed Shiham (Puchu), nominated by the Indoor Sports Badminton Academy, and Ibrahim Hamza Khaleel, nominated by Club Static.

The committee’s representative seats will be occupied by Hassan Zareer of Indo Sports Badminton Club, Ibrahim Afeef of Club Aviation Security, and Suha Jaleel of Sports Club Hosco.

In line with the new regulations, the athlete representative will be elected within 60 days of the presidential confirmation and will be chosen exclusively through votes cast by individual members.

The upcoming leadership transition follows a turbulent period for BAM. The last planned election, originally scheduled for March 2024, collapsed amid disputes within the association’s statutes. That election was expected to see Ishfan, then serving as general secretary, contest the presidency against nine-time national champion Mohamed Ajfan Rasheed, while longtime president Moosa Nashid had prepared to run for vice president. The process ultimately did not move forward.

Since May, BAM has been under suspension and placed under the oversight of a joint working group made up of BAM’s former exco representatives, the Maldives Olympic Committee member, and the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

With the uncontested election now set to bring Ishfan into leadership, optimism is growing that the BWF may soon lift the association’s suspension, potentially restoring full operational status and clearing the path for the Maldives to re-enter international badminton governance and competition.