Maldives badminton star Nabaa loses second match at Tokyo Olympics
The 22-year-old lost her first match against China’s He Bingjiao on Sunday
Fathimath Naabaha
Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq (Nabaa), one of Maldives’ most celebrated badminton players, lost Monday morning's match at the Tokyo Olympics, to Iran’s Soraya Aghaeihajiagha.
Soraya is currently 111th place in badminton’s world rankings. Nabaa who ranks 252, lost Monday’s match against Soraya in two sets straight; 14-21 and 7-12.
While Nabaa achieved some feats in this match, her first match was against China’s He Bingjiao, who ranks ninth place in the world rankings, on Sunday. The set scores of this match concluded with 6-21 and 3-21.
This match is not Nabaa’s first match played against Iran’s Soraya as they have competed in Pakistan’s Yonex Sunrise Pakistan International Series, in 2019 where Soraya won by 11-21, both sets.
Nabaa was given the honour of waving the Maldivian flag at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, together with Mubal Azzam Ibrahim, she is also the first local woman to be qualified in a badminton event at the Olympic Games.
She won a gold medal in the mix doubles event category at the 2019 YONEX SUNRISE Pakistan International Series. Furthermore, she had also achieved a silver medal along with her sister in the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) held in Mauritius.
