President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed attended Mihaaru Awards 2019 on Monday night.

Mihaaru Awards is an annual sports award function organized by Mihaaru news agency, held to recognize and promote sports in the country.

While President Solih presented the award for Top Football Player of 2018, to Ali ‘Dhagandey’ Ashfaq, Fazna honoured the family of the late Sayyid Hassan, for his numerous contributions to Maldivian sport.

Further, athletes from six major sports were recognized and awarded at the ceremony.

Hassan ‘Hanna’ Raif was awarded ‘Most Promising Football Player’. Ali ‘Huzante’ Huzam was selected ‘Men’s Best Volleyball Player’ and Aishath Maajidha was awarded ‘Women’s Best Volleyball Player’, while Ariz Mohamed was selected as the ‘Men’s Most Promising Volleyball Player’ and Shaha Shamin won ‘Women’s Most Promising Volleyball Player.’ In addition, Ahmed Ajufan was awarded ‘Men’s Best Individual Player’ while Fathimath Nabaaha won ‘Women’s Best Individual Player.’ 11-year-old Dheema was selected as the ‘Women’s Most Promising Individual Player’ and Mohamed Naail won ‘Men’s Most Promising Individual Player.’

In addition, the stellar performance of Maldivian athletes during this year’s Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) held in Mauritius was celebrated at the event, as well as the decision of the IOIG governing council to let Maldives host the next games in 2023.

While Maldives won 15 medals at the games held last month, the medalists were presented with special prizes given by Ooredoo and Allied Insurance of Maldives.

Furthermore, the national football team was presented an award for their victory during the SAFF Championship 2018 while the late Zahir Naseer’s contributions were honoured at the event with a lifetime achievement award.

Other senior government officials, sports personnel, coaches, technical officials, referees, sports journalists, and sports professionals attended the ceremony as well.