Maldivian sisters win silver in Botswana badminton series
Nabaha and Nabeeha Razzaq secure doubles silver in Botswana International Badminton Series after strong run across African tournaments
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — Maldivian badminton players Fathimath Nabaha Abdul Razzaq and Aminath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq have won silver in the women’s doubles category at the Botswana International Badminton Series, extending the island nation’s growing presence on the global badminton circuit.
The Razzaq sisters reached the final after a strong performance throughout the tournament, facing South Africa’s Amy Ackerman and Johanita Scholtz — the same pair who defeated them in last week’s Zambia International Badminton Series final.
While the Maldivian duo had lost in straight sets in Zambia, they opened their latest encounter with a confident first-set win before dropping the next two, concluding the match with scores of 19–21, 21–13 and 21–15.
Their silver adds to a run of notable results for Maldivian athletes competing independently in African tournaments, part of a broader push by the Maldives to strengthen its representation in international sporting events.
Sports analysts say African series tournaments often provide critical ranking points and exposure for athletes from smaller federations seeking to break into higher-tier competitions.
Other Maldivian athletes also earned podium finishes in Botswana. Zambia International Series champion Hussain Zayan Zaki partnered with Nabaha to secure a bronze medal, after the mixed doubles pair fell short in the semifinals to South Africa’s Ackerman and Robert Summers.
Officials from Maldivian Revival Sports, the club facilitating the delegation, noted that consistent performances across multiple African tournaments signal a rising competitive standard among Maldivian shuttlers.
International badminton has seen a growing number of players from small island states entering continental series events, as federations tap into global training circuits to gain experience outside their limited domestic ecosystems.
For the Maldives — better known globally for tourism — the expansion into competitive badminton aligns with broader national goals of diversifying youth sports development.
The Maldivian contingent will next travel to South Africa to compete in an international tournament beginning Thursday and running through next Sunday. Strong performances there could further boost their world rankings ahead of regional events in Asia later this year.
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