The Maldives witnessed the rise of a local sensation as Ashraf Hassan clinched his first-ever victory in the highly anticipated Burunu Shikaaru Challenge. The event saw Ashraf dethrone defending champion and renowned bodyboarding icon Ali Khushruwan, popularly known as Kuda Ayya.
In an exhilarating final heat of the Open Men’s division, Ashraf secured a narrow triumph by a mere 0.66 points. Competing alongside the eventual champion and Kuda Ayya were Ali Sham Raafiu and Aamin Umar Moosa, intensifying the battle for the coveted title.
The initial stages of the heat were spearheaded by Aamin, who set the pace with his performance. However, the final witnessed a flurry of lead changes, culminating in Ashraf seizing the top spot during the last three minutes.
Ashraf’s remarkable display earned him a total score of 14.16 points, while Kuda Ayya accumulated 13.50 points, securing the second position. Aamin’s impressive efforts granted him third place with 13.20 points, closely followed by Sham with 12.60 points.
This year’s Burunu Shikaaru Challenge proved to be one of the most fiercely contested local tournaments in recent memory. Each round witnessed awe-inspiring performances by the athletes, with closely contested scores from the quarterfinals onwards.
Looking ahead, Ashraf will return to his hometown of Fuvahmulak to participate in the upcoming National Bodyboarding League’s second stop. Notably, the talented bodyboarder showcased tremendous potential during last year’s National Championship, narrowly missing out on a spot in the semifinals.
The Fuvahmulak Challenge is scheduled to take place from September 21st to 29th, followed by the Thulusdhoo edition from October 13th to 21st. The final event of the year, the Bandufila Challenge, will be held from November 12th to December 1st.
Stay tuned for more.
