Ali Thameem
Ten of the twelve local bodyboarders competing in Maldives Pro 2026 at Thulusdhoo’s Cokes Surf Break have secured a spot in the Round of Sixteen.
Eighteen athletes are taking part in the Men’s Series. Following the trial, repo, and the non-elimination rounds of the Men Rising series, ten Maldivian athletes are set to compete in the round of 16.
Three of the eight heats of the round of sixteen will feature head-to-heads between Maldivian athletes. Ali Khushruwan will take on Dawood Fazeeh in heat 4; Ashraf Hassan and Ali Javed will compete in heat 6; and Aamin Umar Moosa and Eyan Ahmed will compete in heat 7.
This allocation guarantees at least three Maldivian bodyboarders to qualify for the quarterfinals. Besides these six bodyboarders, Noon Mohamed Dhunaim Irushad, Aswan Mohamed, Shaaif Shareef, Nooh Mohamed Dhunaim Irushad will compete against foreign athletes. Notably, Shaaif will be going head-to-head with two-time world champion Pierre Louis Costes.
The elimination heats are set to start at 10:00 this morning.
The Maldives Pro 2026, part of the International Bodyboarding Committee’s World Tour series, started last Wednesday at Thulushoo’s Randa Raalhugan’du, famously known as Cokes Surf Break.
IBC describes Cokes as “One of the most powerful, fast, and consistent right-hand waves in the Maldives. Cokes breaks over a shallow reef, delivering heavy barrels that will test the grit of the world’s elite riders”.
This is the third time that Maldives has been the host of the IBC World Tour series. The tour last came to Maldives in August of 2024, when it took place at Varunula Raalhugan’du surf break in Male’ City.
