Ali Thameem
Maldivian badminton players Aminath Nabeeha and Fathmath Nabaaha are set to face each other in the women’s singles finals of the ongoing Botswana International, making history as the first-ever Maldivians to play in singles finals of a BWF circuit tournament.
Nabaha, the top-seeded female player in the tournament, had to face Hajar Nuriyewa of Azerbaijan in the singles semifinals. Nabaha won the game by 21-15, 21-15 in the two sets. Nabaha had easily won the quarterfinal game earlier today, her opponent scoring just 2 and 3 points in respective sets.
In the opposite leg, after a comfortable quarterfinal win (21-9, 21-7) in the quarterfinals, Aminath Nabeeha had to face Era Mafthua in the semifinals, an Azerbaijani player who was seeded second in the tournament and ranked 185th in the world. Nabeeha won the first set 21-12 but narrowly lost the second set (20-22). She fought back and won the third set (21-8) securing her spot in the singles final.
In the quarterfinal of the women’s doubles event, Nabaaha and Nabeeha lost against Sri Lanka’s Hasini Ambalangodage and Hasara Wijarayathne—the pair they defeated in the doubles final at the Zambia International. The score was 21-14, 21-18.
In the men’s doubles quarterfinals, Nibal and Zayan played against Azerbaijanis A. Gabilov and D. Pangistu. The Maldivian duo lost the game by 21-16, 21-08. Nibal and Zayan have lost their singles quarterfinal games as well.
In addition to making it to the women’s singles final, Nabaha has qualified for the mixed doubles final alongside revival teammate Zayan. The two of them won their semifinal game by 21-18, 21-13 against an Azerbaijani team. Earlier today, Naba and Zayan defeated a Botswana pair in the quarterfinals, by a score of 21-11, 21-11.
In tomorrow’s final of mixed doubles, Nabaha and Zayan will face Azerbaijani pair Era Maftuha and Agil Gabilove, against whom Nibal and Nabeeha’s pair were defeated in the quarterfinals today.
Earlier this month, the four players of Revival SC competed in the Zambia International, from which Nabaha and Nabeeha won gold in the women’s doubles. The four of them are being coached by Revival’s Nashfan Mohamed.
