Aminath Jaaisha Juneez who broke 2 national records in the National Grand Prix won the female top athlete title while Maldives’ fastest runner Hassan Saaid won the best male athlete title in the National Grand Prix.

This is the first time that either of these athletes won the top athlete’s title in the Grand Prix. If we’re looking at the Grand Prix ranking system, Saaidh and Jaaisha are at the top now. The Grand Prix ranking system works like this, gold medals are given a specific number of points, and if an athlete breaks a national record, points are given after looking at the tournament’s guidelines.

Jaaisha had won 3 gold medals in this tournament. They are from 1500m, 800m, and 3000m running. The latest 2019 Grand Prix winner Aishath Himna Hassan had also won 3 gold medals. They were from 100m, 200m, and 400m running.

Jaaisha broke the 1500m record this time by finishing the event in 5:05.63 timing. Jaaisha had broken the 16-year-old 3000m record as well. She finished the race in 11 minutes and 15.8 seconds. This record was previously held by Fathmath Hashma Abdul Azeez who had finished the race in 12 minutes and 03.2 seconds in the National Athletics Competition back in 2005.

Jaaisha won first place in 800m running by finishing the race in 2 minutes 30.30 seconds. Second place Raniya finished the race in 2 minutes 38.97 seconds and third place Aminath Shamha Sharee finished the race in 2 minutes 44.21 seconds.

Hussain Fazeel who won the best player title in the first two Grand Prix did not participate this time. He was unable to participate as he is abroad for work. Fazeel won the last Grand Prix as he earned an extra 8 points due to the record he broke that time.

Saaid won the best athlete title in the Grand Prix by winning gold medals in 3 events. He won the 100m race by finishing it in 10.76 seconds. Second place Ibaadullah finished the race in 11.00 seconds and third place was won by Mohamed Minhaal from Track & Field Sports who finished the race in 11.37 seconds.

The 400m race was also won by Saaid. He completed this race in 49.39 seconds, closely followed by Ibaadullah who finished the race in 22.26 seconds. Third place Mohamed Minhal Shaamil was able to complete the race in 23.11 seconds.

The 800m men’s race was won by Saaid Sports athlete Ahmed Wisaam. He won the race over Sifainge Club’s Hussain Riza (Kuda Riza) in 2 minutes 00.89 seconds. Kuda Riza was able to finish the race in 2 minutes 27.02 seconds.

Kuda Riza won fourth place in the 400m race. But he was phenomenal in the 1500m race. He finished this race in 4 minutes 21.88 seconds and won the gold medal. Second place was won by Yoosuf Ibrahim from Marathon Runners Maldives. The club’s Mohamed Irufaan had won third place in this event. Yoosuf finished the race in 4 minutes 23.88 seconds and Irufaan finished the race in 4 minutes 28.24 seconds.

--Article by Adhadhu

--Image from images.mv