Sayyid Salahuddin sets record to win junior title at Dhivehi Surf League opener

Sayyid Salahuddin claimed the Under-18 Junior title at the first Dhivehi Surf League tournament of the year, held at M. Muli, with a record-breaking score of 18.00 points in the final.

Sayyid posted a near-perfect 9.67 on his first wave and followed with 8.33 on his fourth to defeat Yusuf Kayan Hamdan Zaki, who scored 12.83. The score marks the highest ever recorded in both junior and open categories in league history—surpassing the previous record of 17.50 by Sharoof Shariq in 2022.

Kayan, a finalist in last year’s open division, reached the final after beating Yasin Ahmed Nasheed in the semis, while Sayyid advanced past Ahmed Luzein.

Last year’s junior league champion, Mohammed Inan Abdul Hannan, exited in the quarter-finals, where Sayyid also beat league veterans in a standout performance in the open division.

In a surprising open section run, Sayyid reached the semi-finals, where he lost to Ismail Smiley Rasheed by just two points (11.83 vs. 13.83). Earlier, he eliminated 2024 league champion Hood Ahmed (Hubz) in the quarter-finals.

The Maldives Surfing Association will continue the national league with the Kerandhoo Challenge at L. Maabaidhoo’s Machine surf break this September.