Maldives motorsports team shines at Asia Pacific Championship

The Maldivian Motorsports Team has made history by participating in the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship 2025, held in Bandaragama, Sri Lanka.

Six athletes from the Maldives competed across four disciplines. The Racing Association of the Maldives (RAM) described the event as a success.

RAM Sports Secretary Mohamed Hamdhan Abbas stated that the government did not provide any facilities for training or preparation ahead of the tournament. He noted that a request for financial assistance to conduct a training camp had been submitted, but no support was received.

“So this is a good job. We finished seventh in the two-hour endurance karting event among 13 countries, which I believe could have improved a lot if we had been able to practice. E-sports also reached the semi-finals, and I believe this too is an achievement,” Hamdhan said.

In the other categories, gymnastics and karting slalom, Maldivian participants did not achieve the desired results. However, RAM emphasized that the experience gained was valuable for both the athletes and the association.

The association noted that it had applied for budgetary support from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment four months prior to the event. RAM stated that some categories could be practiced locally and had requested space for training.

“Minister Abdullah Rafiu gave us a letter stating that the ministry would arrange it, but we did not receive anything. Therefore, we had lost hope of attending the event. But with the well wishes of our sponsors and through loans, we made it here and achieved several milestones. We have shown that motorsports is a field where Maldivians can compete and excel with proper practice,” the association said.

RAM Vice President Sharuvaan Shareef added that the association aims to make the Maldives proud in the field.

“However, the government has labelled motorsports a gang sport and shut all doors to it. It’s a serious issue. The careers of our young athletes are being ruined due to the government’s narrow-mindedness. We again call on the government not to let our association’s hard work go to waste,” he said.

Sharuvaan also stated that he had requested an opportunity to meet President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to discuss the matter.