The Maldives under-21 national netball team has earned a place in the semi-finals of the Asian Youth Netball Championship 2025 following an impressive series of performances in the group stage. Hosted in Jeonju, South Korea, the prestigious tournament features some of Asia’s most competitive youth netball squads.
Competing in Group B, the Maldivian team secured four victories out of five matches, defeating strong contenders such as Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Japan. Their only group-stage loss came at the hands of Pakistan. With this performance, the team now advances to the semi-finals, where they will once again meet Chinese Taipei on Thursday, 3rd July at 10:00 AM Maldives time.
The championship, organized by the Asian Netball Federation, is divided into two groups. Group A includes higher-ranked teams such as India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, countries with long-standing dominance in South and Southeast Asian netball. Group B, where Maldives is placed, also includes formidable teams like South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
Despite being one of the youngest teams in the tournament in terms of experience, Maldives has shown determination and discipline on the court. The current roster features almost an entirely new lineup, with only five returning players from previous competitions. Coach Neesha Haleem, who has led the team with focused strategy and encouragement, expressed her satisfaction with both the results and the performance of the athletes.
“Not only am I happy with the result, I’m happy with their performance as well. We’ve come out the gate running after a five-year hiatus,” said Neesha, reflecting on the team’s return to the international netball stage.
The team’s preparations began just three months ago, showing that short-term, high-intensity training, coupled with talent development, can yield competitive results. Earlier in June, as part of their preparation, Maldives participated in an invitational netball competition in Hong Kong and finished in third place, an early indicator of the team’s promising potential.
This achievement not only marks a return to international netball for Maldives after several years but also highlights the growing commitment to youth sports development in the country. The consistent support from coaching staff, sports authorities, and national federations has played a critical role in enabling young Maldivian athletes to perform confidently on a continental stage.
As Maldives prepares for the semi-final clash against Chinese Taipei, national pride and anticipation are on the rise. The team’s journey stands as an inspiring testament to the rising standards of sportsmanship and athletic excellence emerging from the island nation, reinforcing Maldives’ identity not just as a world-class tourist destination, but as a growing presence in Asian competitive sports.
For foreign visitors and sports enthusiasts, this development offers a new perspective on Maldives beyond its pristine beaches: a young and vibrant sporting culture that continues to grow and compete at international levels.
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