Ali Raeef: The Architect of Maldives' Masters Athletics Revolution

Sports

When the story of Masters Athletics in the Maldives is told, one name will always stand at the center of its remarkable rise — Ali Raeef (Ayya).

At a time when Masters Athletics was virtually unknown in the Maldives, Ali Raeef dared to dream of creating opportunities for athletes beyond their senior competitive years. Today, that dream is becoming a reality as Maldivian masters athletes continue to achieve unprecedented success both at home and abroad.

Before 2025, veteran athletes in the Maldives only had the opportunity to compete in a limited 35+ category at the National Athletics Championship. However, everything changed when the Masters Athletics Maldives Club was established in 2025, opening a new chapter for athletics in the country.

Working closely with the Athletics Association of Maldives, Ali Raeef took on the challenge of building the masters athletics movement from the ground up. The journey was far from easy. Limited resources, lack of awareness, and numerous logistical challenges stood in the way.

Yet Ayya refused to give up.

Supported by a small group of dedicated friends and volunteers, with Mohamed Amir Club Vice President and Fathimath Riyasha General Secretary he continued pushing forward with his vision. Today, the results of that effort are visible for everyone to see as masters athletics continues to grow at an impressive pace across the Maldives.

One of the biggest milestones came in 2025 when the Maldives hosted its first national-level Masters Athletics Championship. More than 100 athletes participated in the historic event, which also welcomed competitors from seven different countries.

Just one year later, the championship experienced remarkable growth. The 2026 edition attracted more than 200 athletes from five countries, highlighting the increasing popularity of masters athletics both locally and internationally.

The growth has also been reflected on the international stage.

Maldivian masters athletes first competed internationally at the Bangladesh International Masters Athletics Championship 2024, where only two athletes represented the country and returned home with a single bronze medal.

At the Sri Lankan National Masters Athletics Championship 2025, six Maldivian athletes participated and won three medals, including two gold and one silver.

The country's biggest continental appearance came at the 23rd Asian Masters Athletics Championship 2025 in Chennai, India, where eight athletes represented the Maldives and secured two historic medals — one silver and one bronze.

The momentum continued in 2026. At the Sri Lankan National Masters Athletics Championship, nine athletes won an outstanding 22 medals, including seven gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals.

The success reached new heights at the 38th Malaysian International Masters Athletics Championship 2026, where an 11-member Maldivian team produced the nation's greatest masters athletics achievement to date, winning an incredible 36 medals — 13 gold, 15 silver and eight bronze.

For Ali Raeef, however, the journey is far from over.

Despite the rapid progress, he believes there are still many challenges to overcome. His vision is to see Maldivian masters athletes achieve even greater success at international competitions while receiving the recognition they deserve.

According to Ayya, representing the Maldives should never be limited by age.

"Every citizen has the right to represent our beloved country and raise the national flag with pride. Age should never be a barrier," he said.

He also believes that while reward systems may differ between junior, senior and masters categories, every achievement deserves recognition.

"A victory is a victory. Whether it comes from a junior athlete, a senior athlete or a masters athlete, every achievement contributes to the pride of the nation and should be celebrated."

Thanks to his leadership, dedication and unwavering belief in the power of sport, Ali Raeef has transformed Masters Athletics from a little-known concept into one of the fastest-growing sporting movements in the Maldives.

As more athletes continue to join the masters athletics family and more medals are won on the international stage, one thing is certain: the success story of Masters Athletics in the Maldives would not have been possible without the vision and determination of Ali Raeef.

His work has not only created opportunities for today's athletes but has also built a lasting legacy for generations to come.