Maldives picks up more medals in Indian Ocean Island Games

The Maldives has won a total of seven medals at the ongoing Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Reunion.

Hassan Saaid, who became the first Maldivian to win a gold medal in an international sporting event by winning the IOIG men’s 100 meter sprint this Sunday, won a silver medal in the men’s 200 meter sprint. He completed the sprint in 21:08 second, and broke his previous record by 11 seconds.

Maldivian table tennis pair Mueena Mohamed and Aminath Shiura Shareef placed third, contesting against another Maldivian pair.

The men’s badminton team also won a silver medal by winning three out of four matches. The women’s badminton team placed third by winning one out of four matches, and are sharing the Bronze medal with Reunion, as both the teams received equal points.

On Sunday, Shamha Ahmed, who represented Maldives in the women’s 10 km race, also won the Bronze medal by completing the event in 45 minutes, setting a new national record.

The Maldives now has one gold, two silver and four bronze medals. Ahmed Marzooq, the secretary general of the Maldives Olympic Committee said the Maldives aims to win nine medals this year.

The men’s football ream meanwhile lost the chance to reach the semi finals after losing to Madagascar by 4-0.

This year Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte and Reunion Islands will be competing along with Maldives in 14 sporting events including athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, handball, judo, sailing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and weightlifting.

The games will end on August 8.