Ahmed Affan
The Maldives’ Men’s and Women’s relay teams proudly returned home after clinching bronze medals in the 4x100m relay event at the South Asian Junior Athletics Championships, held in Chennai, India. The teams earned their podium finishes amid intense competition from neighboring countries.
The Women’s team, comprising Hawwa Muzna Faiz, Ahnaa Nizar, Ziva Moosa Shafeeu, and Mariyam Ruya Ali, completed the 4x100m relay in 48.04 seconds to secure their third-place finish. They were bested by Sri Lanka, who took silver with a time of 46.48 seconds, and India, who set a new record with a winning time of 45.08 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Sri Lanka’s U20 team in 2018.
Similarly, the Men’s relay team, consisting of Hussain Zeek Suad, Ibrahim Nahil Nizar, Mohamed Zuiz Suad, and Mohamed Minhaal Shamin, also secured bronze with a time of 41.98 seconds. India set a new record in this event, finishing first with a time of 40.76 seconds, followed by Sri Lanka in second place with a time of 40.28 seconds. Both times surpassed the previous record of 41.27 seconds, set by Sri Lanka in 2007.
The Maldivian teams also competed in the 4x400m relay event finals. The women’s team, which included Muzna, Zeek Ashraf, Ziva, and Ahnaa, finished fourth with a time of 4 minutes and 08.07 seconds. Bangladesh claimed third with a time of 3 minutes and 57.37 seconds, while Sri Lanka and India took second and first place with times of 3 minutes and 49.99 seconds and 3 minutes and 44.35 seconds, respectively.
The men’s 4x400m relay team, featuring Zeek, Zuiz, Yusuf Aaish Mohamed, and Ikram Abdulla, also placed fourth, clocking a time of 3 minutes and 25.47 seconds. Pakistan finished fifth with 3 minutes and 22.39 seconds, while Bangladesh secured third place with 3 minutes and 21.50 seconds. India and Sri Lanka finished in the top two spots, with times of 3 minutes and 11.14 seconds and 3 minutes and 09.27 seconds, respectively.
India emerged as the overall top performer in the championship, amassing 21 gold, 22 silver, and 5 bronze medals, for a total of 48 medals. Sri Lanka followed with a total of 35 medals, including 9 gold, 9 silver, and 17 bronze. Bangladesh and Nepal also made the podium, earning three and one bronze medals, respectively.
A contingent of sixteen Maldivian athletes represented the nation in this prestigious event, with eight male and eight female athletes.
