A squad of 12 table tennis players has been selected to represent the Maldives in the upcoming Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG).
The 11th Indian Ocean Island Games is set to be held in Madagascar from August 25 to September 3. The National Table Tennis Team, made up of six female and six male players, has been preparing for the event, undergoing training sessions in Croatia, India, and China.
Among the six female players representing the Maldives are Fathimath Dheema Ali, Aishath Rafa Nazim, Mishka Mohamed Ibrahim, Laisa Fathullah Ismail, Fatima Jumana Nimal, and Aiminath Shiura Sharif.
On the men’s side, the country will be represented by Mohamed Shaffan Ismail, Musa Munsif Ahmed, Mohammed Zeesth Naseem, Akhyar Ahmed, Ahmed Thabin Shujau, and Zeek Hassan Latheef.
In addition, two promising young players Awn Ibrahim Latheef and Minha Mahjoob Shujau will participate in the IOIG youth camp.
The Maldivian Table Tennis contingent is not only comprised of players but also includes two respected umpires, Mohamed Yameen and Azzam Ibrahim, who will officiate the tournaments during the IOIG.
The Maldives won three gold medals in table tennis at the 2019 edition of the Indian Ocean Island Games held in Mauritius. These achievements came in the team events: women’s doubles, and women’s singles categories.