Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu has met with the Maldivian para athletes set to compete in the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, extending encouragement and formally presenting their official jerseys ahead of the team’s departure.

The ceremony, held in Malé, was attended by senior sports officials, including Maldives Olympic Committee (MOC) President and Swimming Association of Maldives President Mohamed Abdul Sattar, MOC Secretary General Thamooh Ahmed Saeed, and representatives of the Maldives Paralympic Committee.

During the event, Minister Rafiu congratulated the athletes on their qualification for the Games and urged them to strive for excellence, noting that their participation reflects both personal achievement and national pride. He assured the Government’s full support for the development of para sports and for strengthening opportunities available to Maldivian athletes with disabilities.

The Asian Youth Para Games will take place in Dubai from 7–14 December 2025, featuring competitions in athletics, swimming, powerlifting, taekwondo, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, golf, and para armwrestling. The Maldives will compete in swimming and athletics.

The Dubai Games serve as a key milestone for young para athletes across the region, ahead of next year’s major international para sporting event set to take place in Nagoya, Japan.