Team Maldives has departed to Mauritius, for the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG).

The Maldivian contingent departed from Velana International Airport (VIA) early Wednesday morning.

While Maldives is participating in 10 sporting events -four less than IOIG 2015- this year, they are aiming four to win fifteen medals.

The sporting events in which the country is competing are; football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, kite surfing, badminton, sailing, swimming and youth camp.

While this year marks the 10th edition of the Indian Ocean Island Games, held every four years, Maldives has been participating in the games since year one.

Maldivian athletes have thus far won one gold medal, seven silver and 14 bronze medals at the Indian Ocean Island Games.

At the last edition of the games, Hassan Saaid became the first Maldivian to win a gold medal in an international sporting event- after winning the IOIG men’s 100-meter sprint.

The 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games is to be held from 19-28 July.

Maldives is currently working to host the next edition of the Indian Ocean Island Games.