Nine-year-old surfer Aaliya Latheef has been named the women's champion at the National Surfing Championships, further enhancing her already impressive collection of achievements.

Aaliya claimed the title by beating Aya Naseem in the final. Earlier in the tournament, she secured her spot in the championship heat by defeating Shazia Saeed in the semi-finals.

Aya achieved a score of 5.23 points in the last heat. Aaliya, with her win, made history as the youngest female athlete to secure a national surfing championship, highlighting another significant achievement in Maldivian surfing.

The recent victory adds to an already remarkable career for the young surfer. Aaliya claimed victory in the women's category at the Maldives Surfing Association Junior Championship last year, making her the Maldives' inaugural junior women's surfing champion.

She has also had success on the global platform. Earlier this year, Aaliya secured a gold medal at a surfing event in Sri Lanka, where she caught attention by overcoming older and more seasoned rivals on her journey to triumph.

Recognized as one of the Maldives' most promising young athletes, Aaliya's ongoing achievements are considered a significant advantage for the growth of women's surfing in the nation.