Maldives Flag to be Carried by Ahnaa and Shamnooz at the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Beach Games 2026
At the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, the Maldives’ national flag will be carried by Ahnaa Nizaar and Beach Handball team captain Shamnooz Mohamed Naeem.
The two athletes were officially appointed as flag bearers, with the national flag formally handed over to them during a special ceremony held at the Athletes’ Village. The flag was presented by Maldives Olympic Committee President Mohamed Abdul Sattar and Sports Commissioner Mohamed Tholal.
During the ceremony, both officials encouraged the athletes, highlighting that representing the Maldives on such an international stage is a great honour. They urged the team to perform to the best of their abilities and to proudly represent the nation.
MOC Secretary General Thamooh Ahmed Saeed also addressed the athletes, encouraging them to lead by example and strive for excellence throughout the Games.
The Maldives will compete in four sports at the Games—Beach Handball, Beach Athletics, Beach Volleyball, and Open Water Swimming—with a total of 27 athletes representing the country.
Both flag bearers have previously represented the Maldives in international competitions and have achieved notable success.
