Handover Ceremony of Handballs to the Handball Maldives and Visit by a former Japanese national team handball player

On, April 7, Handballs were officially handed over to Handball Maldives during a ceremony held at Hulhumale’ Phase 2 Ground. Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Her Excellency Mrs. ISHIGAMI Rumiko formally handed over the legacy handballs, donated by Japan Handball Association, to Mr. Ahmed Mujthaba, President of the Handball Maldives.

The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Abdul Razak Ibrahim , Minister of State for Sports, Fitness and Recreation, officials from Handball Maldives, Mr. Mohamed Abdul Sattar, President of Maldives Olympic Committee, and Ms. Aishath Nazhath, President of Maldives Paralympic Committee. The event symbolized the the important role of sport in fostering friendship, mutual understanding, and cooperation between Japan and the Maldives.

As part of the program, Ms. AGARIE Mana, a former Japanese national handball team player who competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, also attended the handover ceremony. Ms AGARIE conducted a training workshop for Maldivian men’s and women’s national team players and coaches at the Social Center. Following the handover ceremony, an exhibition match featuring the U18 and U20 men’s national teams was held, during which Ms. AGARIE also provided hands-on coaching to the players.

This initiative forms part of Japan’s Sports Diplomacy Enhancement Project. The Embassy remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote youth development, inclusion, and international cooperation through sport, and to further strengthening the longstanding partnership between Japan and the Maldives.