Nine-year-old Aaliya makes history as youngest national surfing champion

Nine-year-old surfer Aaliya Latheef has been crowned women's champion at the National Surfing Championships, adding another remarkable achievement to her rapidly growing list of accolades.

Aaliya secured the title after defeating Aya Naseem in the final. Earlier in the competition, she booked her place in the championship heat by overcoming Shazia Saeed in the semi-finals.

Aya registered a score of 5.23 points in the final heat. With her victory, Aaliya became the youngest female athlete ever to win a national surfing championship, marking another historic milestone in Maldivian surfing.

The latest triumph builds on an already impressive career for the young surfer. Last year, Aaliya won the women's division at the Maldives Surfing Association Junior Championship, becoming the Maldives' first junior women's surfing champion.

She has also enjoyed success on the international stage. Earlier this year, Aaliya claimed a gold medal at a surfing competition in Sri Lanka, where she drew attention for defeating older and more experienced competitors on her way to victory.

Widely regarded as one of the Maldives' brightest young sporting talents, Aaliya's continued success is seen as a major boost for the development of women's surfing in the country.