President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday evening presented the most prestigious awards of the Maldives Sports Awards 2022. The gala event, organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, was held tonight at the Ekuveni Track.

President Solih presented the most prestigious awards at the ceremony, including the Special Recognition Awards conferred on Md. Zahir Ahsan Russel, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Bangladesh; Namal Rajapaksa, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Sri Lanka; Al-Kadi Badr Abdul Rahman, the Vice Minister of Sports of Saudi Arabia; Ahmed Nazeer, the Honorary President of the Maldives Tennis Association; and Hussein Afeef. The award was conferred on individuals who had promoted societal progress and change through sports.

The President also presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to 15 individuals in recognition of their long service in sports, and the Sports Icon Award to 16 international sportspersons for their role in creating positive social change through sports. He also handed over awards to the male and female Specially-abled Athletes of the Year, and Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.

Vice President Faisal Naseem presented the awards to the male and female Most Promising Athletes of the Year. They were joined at the ceremony by senior government officials, athletes, and top sportspersons from across the globe. Held to recognise, encourage and celebrate Maldivian athletes, the awards ceremony saw the presentation of 108 awards in 18 different sports.