In a quiet corner of Hulhumalé’s streets, the whir of wheels on concrete echoes the rising hopes of a determined group of young athletes. These are Maldives’ first competitive inline skaters, training hard for what will be their biggest challenge yet — the Inline Skate Series 2 – International Open Championship in Indonesia.

This marks the first time Maldivian skaters will compete on such a big international stage, going up against athletes from seven countries including hosts Indonesia and regional neighbours like India.

“We’re excited and a little nervous,” one skater admits, taking a breather between practice laps. “But we’re proud to represent the Maldives and we’re training every day to give our best.”

The skaters are backed by Skate Maldives, formerly known as the Roller Skating Association of Maldives, which was formed six years ago with the goal of nurturing local talent and building a skating community in the country.

Though it’s their first international event, Skate Maldives President Mohamed Hanim is confident. “These kids have talent, they have heart, and they’ve worked hard for this. We expect to see strong performances,” he says.

As their wheels spin toward Indonesia, these young skaters are not just chasing medals — they’re carving a path for a new generation of athletes in a sport still in its early days in the Maldives.

All eyes on the track now — and all the best to our skaters as they take on the world.