Maldivian pair win mixed doubles gold
Zayan and Nabaha claim second BWF title as Maldivian athletes continue competing independently despite national team suspension
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — Maldivian shuttlers Hussain Zayan Shaheed Zaki and Fathimath Nabaha Abdul Razzaq have won the mixed doubles title at the Zambia International Badminton Series, marking a major achievement for one of South Asia’s smallest badminton nations.
Competing in Lusaka, the Maldivian duo defeated Egypt’s Izzat Kareem Mahmood and Noor Ahmed Yousri in a tightly contested final, winning 21–18, 22–20 to secure the gold medal.
The victory marks their second Badminton World Federation (BWF) title and represents only the fifth BWF gold ever won by a Maldivian athlete, underscoring the country’s growing presence in international badminton despite limited resources and lack of a fully functioning national federation.
The success comes at a complicated moment for Maldivian badminton. The Badminton World Federation suspended the national team in May 2025 over alleged interference in the sport’s governance, though Maldivian athletes are still permitted to compete as individual entrants.
Zayan and Nabaha are among those continuing to represent the Maldives independently, navigating international tournaments without formal national backing.
Sports analysts say their win highlights both the resilience of Maldivian athletes and the structural challenges they continue to face. With no access to national-team funding or support staff, players often rely on personal resources, foreign training camps, or private sponsorships to remain competitive.
Nabaha also reached the women’s doubles final alongside partner Aminath Nabeeha. The pair finished with silver after losing to second-seeded South Africans Amy Ackerman and Johanita Scholtz, who won 21–16, 21–14.
For the Maldives — a nation better known globally for tourism than professional sport — each international podium finish carries outsized significance.
Badminton is one of the few sports where Maldivian athletes have steadily climbed world rankings, and the latest results are expected to fuel renewed calls for stronger institutional support once the federation dispute is resolved.
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