Maldives hosts first junior surfing event with female competitors

MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives has made sporting history with the launch of its National Junior Surfing Championships 2025, where female junior surfers are competing at the national level for the first time.

While women have participated in the open division since 2021, this year’s inclusion of under-18 female athletes marks a significant breakthrough for gender representation in the island nation’s surfing community. The milestone is being celebrated as a sign of growing inclusion in a sport long dominated by men.

The three-day competition, which began on Thursday, features four categories — women’s under-18, men’s under-14, under-16, and under-18. The championships are taking place ahead of the Rannamaari Challenge, another national-level event scheduled to begin on Saturday.

Six female surfers are competing in the inaugural women’s junior category. In the opening heat, Aliya Latheef scored a total of 10 points to qualify for the final, followed by Imani Eliza Shian and Alaika Abdul Aleem. 

In the second heat, Mariyam Zoha Maadih topped the scoreboard with 7 points, securing a final berth alongside Aliya, while Aisha Thaaraa Waasif and Sumayya Mariyam Athif advanced to the semi-finals.

Organizers say the inclusion of young women reflects a wider effort to expand grassroots surfing programs across the Maldives and inspire greater female participation in water sports. Surfing, once a niche pursuit associated with tourism, has grown rapidly in popularity among Maldivian youth over the past decade, aided by local clubs and coastal community initiatives.

The men’s under-18 division features 16 competitors, with 14 in the under-16 category and four in the under-14 group. The event runs through Friday and will determine the country’s next generation of surfers representing the Maldives in regional competitions.