Laiba shines at Moldova tournament, claims silver and bronze
At the Maldives Sports Awards held last year, Laiba won the bronze medal in the Young Athlete of the Year category at the age of 11.
Laiba "Elly" Ahmed Mahloof
Young Maldivian badminton sensation Laiba “Elly” Ahmed Mahloof has secured a good start to the year by winning two medals at the Winter Chisinau 2025 badminton tournament held in Moldova.
In the tournament, which proceeded from Friday to Saturday, Laiba won a silver medal and a bronze medal. Laiba secured the silver medal in the mixed doubles event. In this event, Laiba's pair partner was Benjamin from Romania. Laiba won the bronze medal in the doubles event. In this event, Laiba's pair partner was Irina from Moldova.
In the mixed doubles event of the tournament, Laiba and Benjamin's pair won competitive matches in the quarter-final and semi-final. Both matches were won by Laiba and Benjamin's pair in two straight sets. In the final of this event, Laiba and Benjamin's pair faced the pair of Luca and Isabella from Romania. In the final match, Luca and Isabella's pair won in two sets against Laiba and Benjamin's pair.
In the doubles event, Laiba and Irina competed in the semi-final. After a competitive game, they lost the semi-final match in two sets to one. In the semi-final, competing against the pair of Patricia and Daria from Moldova, Laiba and Irina's pair won the first set. However, Patricia and Daria won the next two sets to win the match.
This is the first international tournament Laiba has competed in this year. Competing in tournaments on the Badminton Europe calendar, Laiba won a total of 17 international medals in 2023 and 2024. That includes four silver medals and 13 bronze medals. With the two medals won from the Moldova tournament, Laiba has won 19 international medals to date.
At the Maldives Sports Awards held last year, Laiba won the bronze medal in the Young Athlete of the Year category at the age of 11.
