Revival Sports Club’s High Performance badminton players are set to embark on a landmark international tour, marking another major step in their mission to elevate Maldivian badminton to new heights. Despite recent challenges, including a drop in world rankings due to the national suspension from international competition, the team is now ready to reignite their global presence.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Nashfan Mohamed, Revival Sports will compete in three consecutive Badminton World Federation (BWF), sanctioned tournaments across Africa, beginning with the Zambia International 2025 in Lusaka from 13th to 16th November, followed by the Botswana International 2025 in Otse from 20th to 23rd November, and concluding with the Aquasprings South Africa International 2025 in Cape Town from 27th to 30th November.

This tour comes after the BWF granted a temporary exemption to the Maldives, allowing Revival Sports to compete internationally despite the country’s ongoing suspension. The exemption marks the first opportunity in nearly a year for the club to return to BWF-sanctioned events.

Coach Nashfan emphasized the significance of this opportunity for both the players and Maldivian badminton as a whole.

“We have lost our ranking places due to the period of suspension. Our ranking is back to zero. Right now, in order to keep improving and progressing, we need to take part in competitions that run back-to-back, and these three tournaments in Africa will help us,” he explained.

Revival Sports had just one and a half months to prepare for this demanding tour, far from ideal, but a challenge the team has embraced wholeheartedly.

“It’s not sufficient enough to prepare for these tournaments,” Nashfan admitted.

“But given the circumstances, we have to take the risk and compete. This is a must-take opportunity to achieve our targets.”

Representing the Maldives at these prestigious events are six of Revival’s top athletes: Nibal Ahmed, Zayan Zaki, Hassan Zayan Mohamed, Haisham Ibrahim Ali, Fathimath Nabaha (Naba), and Aminath Nabeeha (Naby).

The players will compete across multiple categories, men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, demonstrating the club’s depth and versatility. In Zambia and Botswana, Nibal, Zayan, Hassan, and Haisham will contest the men’s events, while Naba and Naby will participate in women’s and mixed doubles. In South Africa, Nibal, Zayan, and Hassan will continue in the men’s categories, while Naba and Naby will represent the Maldives in women’s and mixed doubles.

Nashfan highlighted that Revival’s primary goal is to secure gold medals and provide invaluable international exposure to emerging players.

“Our aim is to win gold and strengthen our medal capabilities. For Hassan Zayan and Haisham, this will be their first experience at this competitive level, and it will be crucial for their development,” he noted.

This ambitious African tour follows Revival Sports’ historic international achievements in 2024, a year that firmly established the club as a driving force behind the revival of Maldivian badminton. With renewed determination and international exposure, Revival Sports aims not only to rebuild its lost BWF ranking but also to inspire the next generation of Maldivian athletes to dream bigger on the world stage.