Laiba Ahmed Mahloof made history by becoming the first Maldivian athlete to win gold medals in an international youth badminton tournament, securing three golds in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events at the Armenian Youth Open 2025.

The tournament, held in Yerevan, Armenia, featured youth players from Armenia, Georgia, Cyprus, and the Maldives, and was sanctioned by Badminton Europe.

Currently ranked as the top under-13 badminton player in the Maldives, Laiba has been consistently excelling on the international stage. Her performance this year builds on her earlier success, which includes one silver and one bronze medal from last year’s Armenian Youth Open, and two bronze medals from a tournament in Italy earlier this year.

Laiba is a participant in the Government’s Arutha programme, an initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of Maldivian sports talent and supporting athletes in competing at international standards. Her gold-medal sweep underscores both her potential and the effectiveness of the programme.

Her historic win continues to inspire young athletes across the Maldives and marks a defining moment in the nation’s growing presence in international junior sports competitions.

Taking to his official X account, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu congratulated the young badminton sensation on her historic performance, describing her achievement as a tremendous source of national pride.

The President said Laiba’s success at the tournament was a moment of great pride for the Maldivian nation. He noted that her achievement stood as an inspiration to children across the country who are working hard to build a future in sports.

He also expressed hope that Laiba would continue to rise in the international rankings and achieve even greater success, praising her determination and skill.