Maldives players Aishath Rafa Nazim and Fathmath Dheema Ali have headed to the women’s singles semifinals of the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) table tennis event.

15-year-old Rafa travelled to the semis after beating a player representing Reunion Island. The first set of the match was led by Rafa, 11 – 8. The second set, the most competitive set of the match was also won by Rafa, 12 – 10. She led the third and fourth sets at ease with a score of 11 – 4.

Dheema headed to the semis after beating a player representing Mauritius 4 – 2.

Out of the four players in Maldives team, Fathmath Jumana Nimal had lost in the quarter final against Mauritius, 4 – 2.

All four players from the Maldives table tennis team secured spots in the top 16 in the table tennis singles event earlier.

Young players Rafa and Dheema had shown an excellent performance during the group stage matches on Friday, having won all of them.

The team won a its first gold medal on 22 July, bagging the second on 24 July. The team also won silver medals in the event.