Sidibari
Badminton players have been selected for both men’s and women’s senior national teams, following selection trials held from this week’s Monday to Wednesday.
The trials were held at Kulhivaru Ekuveni indoor badminton courts, where over 50 shuttlers from across the nation competed for a national representation.
Badminton players from clubs based in Male’, Naifaru, Eydhafushi, and Addu attended the trials, which were held in groups. Six of the BWF-ranked players had been seeded into the top draw. The group winner in each of the six groups was awarded a spot on the national team, with the remaining two spots to be selected by the coach. Half of the players selected across the women’s and men’s national teams are players from Revival Sports Club.
The one player selected to the national team from outside Revival SC is Ibrahim Nashith Hamdi from Badminton Academy of Naifaru. The other five players in the national squad are Nibal Ahmed, Hassan Zayan Mohamed, Haisham Ibrahim Ali, Adam Maheen Mohamed and Zayan Zaki – all of whom are players of Revival SC
The two top-seeded players selected for the women’s national team are Nabaha Abdhul Razzaq and Nabeeha Abdhul Razzaq of Revival SC. The remaining four spots were claimed by Aishath Alisha Moosa, Laiba Ahmed Mahloof, Shuba Mohamed Shareef, and Yalvee Hussain Zuhury.
Two of the senior women’s badminton team players are below the age of fourteen – Yalvee Hussain Zuhury is 13, and Laiba Ahmed Mahloof is just 12 years of age. Both Laiba and Yalvee had won medals on the international courts in recent months.
