Male, Maldives, March 19, 2022: Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih participated in the Maldives Sports Awards 2022 on Thursday evening.
The gala event was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Community Empowerment.
President Solih presented the most prestigious awards at the ceremony, including the Special Recognition Awards conferred on Md. Zahir Ahsan Russel, Minister of Youth and Sports of Bangladesh; Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth and Sports of Sri Lanka; Al-Kadi Badr Abdul Rahman, Vice Minister of Sports of Saudi Arabia; and Ahmed Nazeer, Hon. President, Maldives Tennis Association.
The Maldivian President also presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to 15 individuals in recognition of their long service in sports, and the Sports Icon Award to 16 international sports persons for their role in creating positive change in society through sports.
Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya and netball star Tharjini Sivalingam were among the recipients of the Sports Icon Award. Others included former Brazil left back Roberto Carlos, Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, Indian cricketer Suresh Raina and Dutch football legend Edgar Davids.
The awards ceremony was held to recognise, encourage and celebrate Maldivian athletes with a total 108 awards being presented in 18 different sports.
