Aishath Rafa Nazim has claimed the 1st Division Women’s Singles title at the 63rd National Table Tennis Tournament 2025, defeating longtime rival Fathimath Dheema Ali in a stunning final match.
Rafa, who has competed in the tournament for six consecutive years, won the final in four games — marking her third overall title and her first-ever competitive victory against Dheema.
Over the past five tournaments, Dheema consistently triumphed over Rafa to secure the top spot. Their rivalry has been a defining feature of Maldivian women’s table tennis, with Dheema defeating Rafa in the 2019 final. The tournament was not held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While Rafa claimed the Women’s Singles title this year, Dheema continued her dominance in other categories. She took home the Under-19 title after beating Mishka Mohamed Ibrahim and also clinched the Women’s Doubles title.
In Mixed Doubles, Dheema and Mishka teamed up to defeat Rafa and Minha Mahjoob Shujau. However, Rafa partnered with Moosa Munsif Ahmed to win the 1st Division Mixed Doubles title by defeating Dheema and Mohamed Shaffan Ismail.
The 2025 tournament not only highlighted the fierce rivalry between Rafa and Dheema but also showcased the depth of talent in the Maldivian table tennis scene.
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