Maldivian surfers are making waves at the Asian Surfing Championships 2025, currently underway at Mahabalipuram Beach in Tamil Nadu, India, as all three athletes representing the Maldives in the Men’s Open category have advanced to the third round of the competition.
National surfers Ahmed Hood (known as Hubz), Ismail Rasheed (Smiley), and Ahmed Ageel (Ammadey) are competing against top athletes from across the Asian region in this high-profile continental championship, hosted by the Asian Surfing Federation (ASF). The event brings together elite surfers from over a dozen countries, including Indonesia, India, China, the Philippines, UAE, Bangladesh, Singapore, Lebanon, and Chinese Taipei.
Ammadey secured early success by winning his first-round heat, guaranteeing a direct entry into Round Three. Meanwhile, Hubz and Smiley were required to compete in a second elimination round after placing second in their respective opening heats. Demonstrating skill, determination, and composure under pressure, both surfers delivered strong performances to move forward in the tournament.
Hubz emerged victorious in Heat 4 of Round Two with a combined score of 10.17 points, outpacing Bangladesh’s MD Hassan (9.67 points) and the UAE’s Hamad Alhashimi (3.97 points). Smiley claimed the top spot in Heat 2 of Round Two with a score of 9.70 points, defeating Bangladesh’s Yoonus Hussain (5.37 points) and Mohamed Almari from the UAE (3.03 points).
As the competition progresses into the third round, the Maldivian trio will face off against a challenging line-up of international talent. Smiley is scheduled to compete in Heat 2 alongside India’s Ramesh Budihal, Indonesia’s Mega Artana, and John John Chan from Chinese Taipei, who is also contesting in the Junior Open category. Hubz will take part in Heat 4 against Shidon Wu of China, Dani Vidianto of Indonesia, and Lebanon’s Ryan Hakawati. Ammadey, who has shown strong form throughout, will surf in Heat 6 against Eduardo Alciso (Philippines), Liu Chen (China), and Julien Spaccarotella (Singapore).
In Round Three, only the top two surfers from each heat will qualify for the quarter-finals, while the remaining competitors will be eliminated from the tournament. The championship uses a point-based heat scoring system, with judges evaluating surfers based on difficulty, execution, innovation, variety, and speed, power, and flow.
The Maldivian national team’s participation is made possible through the generous sponsorship of BML Islamic, a key supporter of both international competition and grassroots surfing development in the Maldives. BML Islamic is also the principal sponsor of the National Junior Surfing Championship, organized by the Maldives Surfing Association (MSA), a platform designed to foster emerging local talent and prepare young athletes for competitive surfing at regional and global levels.
This achievement by the Maldivian surfers is a proud moment for the nation’s growing sports community and reaffirms the Maldives’ place as a rising force in the regional surfing arena. Surfing is one of the Maldives’ fastest-growing sports, and continued international exposure is vital for the development of local athletes and the promotion of sports tourism.
As the competition intensifies, Maldivians at home and abroad are closely watching their national heroes carry the island nation’s flag with pride on international waters. The upcoming third round will be crucial as the surfers strive to secure spots in the quarter-finals and move one step closer to a podium finish.
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