Yusuf Naik Vajeeh has set new national records in the high jump during his participation at the 6th Asian Under-18 Athletics Championships.

Naik cleared 1.84 metres in the event, surpassing his previous best and establishing new records in both the under-18 and under-20 categories. He had earlier set the under-20 national record with a 1.80-metre jump during the Dammam trials in Saudi Arabia on 20 February 2025.

With this latest result, Naik now officially holds the national high jump records in both youth divisions. He had entered the competition with the intention of surpassing his earlier achievements, and following the event, shared his satisfaction at being able to do so. He emphasised his commitment to improving his personal best in every tournament and expressed hope that his performance would inspire high jump athletes in the region to reach higher standards.

Naik’s performance adds to the Maldives’ presence in the regional athletics scene ahead of further international competitions.

Alongside Naik, several other Maldivian athletes are also competing in the event in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, scheduled from April 15 to April 18. The lineup includes Ahunaf Rayyaan Fahumee (100m and 200m), Aminath Luhya Ahmed (200m, and 400m), Rayn Mohamed (200m), and Zeek Ashraf Rasheed (800m and 1,500m).

This year’s Asian U-18 Athletics Championships has drawn athletes from 24 countries, following the last event held in Uzbekistan in April 2023.