Ahmed Affan
In a series of challenging matches, Maldivian badminton players put up a valiant effort but were ultimately unable to advance past the qualifying rounds in the Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championship.
Representing the Maldives in this esteemed tournament were seasoned players including the nine-time national champion Mohamed Ajfan, along with Nibal Ahmed, Zayan Zakee, Aiminath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq and Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq. Despite their best efforts, the Maldivian contingent faced tough competition from formidable opponents hailing from various countries across Asia.
The mixed doubles pair of Zayan and Nabaha managed to secure two wins during the qualifying rounds. They started strong by defeating the Saudi pair of Mahd Shaikh and Khadeeja Kausar in a thrilling match that went to three sets. The scores stood at 13-21, 21-15, and 21-14 in favor of the Maldivian duo. However, they faced a setback in their subsequent match against the Indian pair of Shatheesh Kumar and Adiya Variyath, losing in straight sets with scores of 4-21 and 6-21.
Despite their commendable performance, Zayan and Nabaha secured the second spot in their group, narrowly missing out on advancing to the main draw. In the women’s singles category, Nabaha displayed her prowess by securing a victory against Naasima of Bangladesh with scores of 9-21 and 8-21. However, she faced tough competition in her match against Macau’s Pui Chi Wa, resulting in a loss for the Maldives.
In the men’s singles category, Zayan faced formidable opponents in Macau’s Pung Fong and Timoreleste’s Raymond Singh. Despite putting up a spirited fight, Zayan fell short in both matches, with scores of 21-16, 21-13 against Pung and 24-22, 21-09 against Raymond.
In the men’s doubles category, the Maldivian pairs of Nibal and Ajufaan faced tough challenges from opponents such as the UAE’s Ayyapan Brothers and Sri Lanka’s Buwaneka Goonethilleka and Viren Nettasinghe. Despite their efforts, the Maldives struggled to secure victories in these matches, ultimately finishing at the bottom of their respective groups.
Similarly, in the women’s doubles category, Nabaha and Nabeeha faced formidable opponents from Malaysia and India, experiencing defeats in both matches with scores of 6-21, 12-21 against Felishia Singh and Fong Flora of Malaysia, and 18-21, 10-21 against Simran Singhi and Rhithika Thaker of India.
Despite the efforts, the Maldivian players were unable to secure victories in the qualifying round, highlighting the tough competition they faced in the Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championship. As they return home, they do so with valuable experience and a renewed determination to continue representing the country in future tournaments.
