Dheema Becomes First Maldivian to Qualify for 2024 Olympics

Fathimath Dheema has made history by becoming the first Maldivian athlete to secure a place in the 2024 Summer Olympics through the South Asian Olympic qualifiers. 

Dheema clinched gold in the qualifiers held in Nepal, overcoming Sri Lankan champion Bimandi Bandara with a decisive 4-1 victory.

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Dheema’s performance was consistently strong throughout the qualifiers. She won both her group stage matches, propelling her directly to the semi-finals. In final, Dheema started strong, winning the first game 11-8. Despite a setback in the second game due to a few mistakes, she regained her momentum and secured the next three games with scores of 13-11, 11-7, and 11-5.

At just 16 years old, Dheema is set to become the first Maldivian athlete to compete in the Olympics through a qualifying stage and the first to represent the Maldives in table tennis at this level. Historically, Maldivian participation in the Olympics has been through tripartite invitations, primarily in athletics and swimming. 

The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11. This event will mark the largest multi-sport competition in Dheema’s career, following her milestone in 2021 as the first Maldivian to qualify for the World Junior Championship.