5 Maldivian players are participating in the Bangladesh International Challenge held in Bangladesh from December 1-5.

Maldives will be represented by this year’s National Champion Fathmath Nabaaha, and her twin sister Aminath Nabeeha who has represented Maldives previously in multiple international tournaments. Zayan Zaki, Rishwan Shiyan, and Ali Haisham will represent Revival Sports Club in the tournament.

Revival Club’s coach Nashfan Mohamed has also traveled to Bangladesh with the team.

Zayan has got the opportunity to play in the men’s singles main draw in the tournament. He will be paired up with Nabaaha in the mixed doubles. Nabaaha and Nabeeha will both participate in the singles as well as women’s doubles. This is a tournament where Nabeeha and Nabaaha can win a medal in the women’s doubles.

Haisham who participated in a competition in Turkey earlier this year will play in the men’s singles qualifying along with Rishwan. Haisham had also participated in the Junior Series held in Bangladesh. Rishwan is also a player who has participated in international competitions.

National Badminton Team and Revival Sports Club had participated in the International Series held in Bahrain recently. In that tournament, Nabaaha, Nabeeha, and Nibal were representing Maldives. However, Nibal was unable to compete in the tournament due to an injury he got during the National Tournament’s men's singles final. It was not a successful tournament for Nabaaha and Nabeeha as well.

Revival Sports Club was represented by Zayan and recent National Champion Thoif. Zayan wasn’t able to go forward from the main draw. Thoif’s tournament ended when he lost in the qualifying stage against UAE’s Vasantha Kumar.

The tournament in Bahrain was the first international tournament for the players after the Covid-19 pandemic. The players can make use of that experience to make the upcoming tournament in Bangladesh a successful one.

--Article and graphics by Adhadhu