Ali Thameem
The Maldives women’s basketball team concluded their campaign in the SABA Women’s Championship 2025 as runners-up after a spirited performance against India in the final.
Despite a challenging contest, the Maldivian team showed great determination before falling 107-32 to a strong Indian side at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi this evening.
Although the national team was defeated, Maldives won a silver medal for the first time in the SABA Women’s Championship.
Maldives started today’s game on the front foot, equalizing at 2-2 early in the first quarter, courtesy of Shiura’s jump shot. Three-pointers from Raifa and Ehau helped regain the lead making it 8-5. However, the experienced Indian team stole the lead and ran away with it as the game progressed into the second and third quarters. Second quarter ended with Maldives trailing by 17-49.
Third quarter saw India’s lead widen more, with just 5 points scored by Maldives. The final quarter tipped off with India having over a 50-point lead. While Maldives displayed immense persistence in the final quarter, the 12 points scored were a consolation. Maldives team continued to battle until the final whistle, gaining invaluable experience on the international stage.
A bright future awaits for women’s basketball in Maldives
This marked a significant milestone for Maldives basketball, as the team reached the final for the first time. Over the course of the four-day championship, the team have proven the growing talent within the squad. Outperforming the previous runner-up Nepal with a 53-46 win on Monday is a testament to that improvement; senior players Shiura, Israu and Raifa all impressed on the court – Israu nearly making a triple-double; Raifa’s prominent scoring from inside and out; Shiura winning POTM.
The team’s journey to the final in the nation’s third appearance in the competition highlights the significant growth of the sport in Maldives and signals a promising future for women’s basketball in the country.
