India agrees to help Maldives build a cricket stadium in island country

The island nation of Maldives is known for its amazing beaches, clear waters and host of watersports that the tourists can enjoy. It is also one of the hottest spots for newly married couples to spend some quality time. It’s 26 atolls are one of the most scenic ones in the world from Addu Atoll to the Ihavandhippolhu Atoll.

The smallest island nation in Asia, Maldives is just 1.5 meters above sea level. Given that there is water in abundance, sports like surfing, diving, and other such activities dominate the scene in the country, but the king of sports remains Football. Other popular sports include tennis, baseball, badminton, basketball, table tennis as well as billiards.

The Maldives first participated in Olympics in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea with a delegate of seven athletes. Most of the athletes are for the discipline of swimming and athletics. In 2012, Mohamed Ajfan Rasheed became the first athlete from the Maldives to compete in Badminton in the 2012 London Olympics.

Maldives asks help from India to build a cricket stadium

India has assured the Maldives that it will “positively consider” the request to help build a cricket stadium in the island nation. The diplomats of two countries, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid to discuss a gamut of bilateral relations.

“While discussing cooperation in the field of youth and sports, the Maldivian side requested Indian assistance for the construction of a cricket stadium. The Indian side agreed to positively consider the request,” according to a joint statement released at the end of Swaraj’s visit.

Cricket in the Maldives is still in its infancy, though the Maldives cricket team represents the nation in T20 cricket, and made its Twenty20 International debut in January this year after the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members.

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