Dheema, Ibadulla to hoist Maldivian flag at the Olympics

Maldives’ Table Tennis prodigy Fathimath Dheema Ali and athlete Ibadulla Adam will have the honor of hoisting the country's national flag at the Olympics this year.

Dheema and Ibadulla were handed over the flag to be hoisted at the International Olympics to be held in Paris, France later this month.

The flag was handed over by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, during a ceremony held for the occasion at the President’s Office on Sunday.

Out of the two flag bearers, Dheema is the first Maldivian athlete to have qualified for the Olympics, after winning in the Olympic Qualifiers Table Tennis singles event in the South Asian region back in May, held in Nepal.

Dheema made history by becoming the first-ever Maldivian athlete to have qualified for the Olympics and her perseverance and excellence in Table Tennis have made the entire nation proud.

Ibadulla returned after a minor setback due to an injury, which cost his an opportunity to compete in the Indian Ocean Island Games held in 2023.

However, Ibadulla has powered through several challenges brought on by his injury and worked with courage and resilience in his recovery journey. He is now back to making a difference in the sports sector.

Maldives will compete in four games at the Olympics; athletics, table tennis, badminton and swimming.

Seven Maldivian athletes will compete in these games; Dheema in TT and two each in the remaining three sports.

Speaking at the ceremony held to handover the flag, Muizzu expressed confidence that the athletes would do their best to make the country proud.

He went on to wish the athletes success.

The president has also pledged to prioritize the progress of sports across the Maldives, in allocating the state budget next year onwards.

As such, Muizzu asserted that his administration will put in efforts that were not observed in previous governments, to promote sports.

Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu urged the athletes to put in their best efforts and go to the games with the determination to do their best.

The Olympic Qualifiers for the South Asian region proceeded from May 13 – 15. Seven countries from the South Asian region competed in the qualifiers.

Paris Olympics 2024 will proceed from 26 July 2024 to 11 August 2024.

Maldives previously competed in the Olympics on invitational opportunities.