Minister of Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu has announced that the Athletics Association of the Maldives is aiming to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. He made this statement during a meeting with the Maldivian team set to compete in the upcoming South Asian Junior Athletics Championships.
The South Asian Junior Athletics Championships will take place in Chennai, India, from September 11-13, with the Maldives sending a squad of 16 athletes including, eight male and eight female participants. A special send-off ceremony was held for the team, attended by Minister Rafiu, Commissioner of Sports Mohamed Tholal, and officials from the Athletics Association.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Rafiu highlighted the ministry’s new focus on Olympic qualification for 2028. He noted that while the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) have been a significant event, the ministry is now shifting its attention to larger international stages. He emphasised the importance of collaboration with the Athletics Association to improve conditions for athletes and outlined a long-term plan for continued development leading up to 2028.
During the event, it was also noted that for the first time, a Maldivian athlete has qualified for the Paris Olympics, with table tennis star Fathimath Dheema Ali achieving this milestone. While Maldivian athletes have previously participated in Olympic athletics events, they have only done so through tripartite invitational slots.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Tholal, who has served as the President of the Athletics Association for the past 12 years, remarked on the historical significance of the South Asian Athletics Championships for the Maldives. He also recalled the nation’s first athletics medal at the 2010 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and its earlier success at the 2007 Junior Championships in Sri Lanka.
The Maldivian squad for the upcoming South Asian Junior Athletics Championships is considered strong, with many athletes having gained experience in international competitions in recent years.