A two-time Olympic gold medallist is swapping the court for the coral. Wang Chi-Lin, the Taiwanese doubles star who won back-to-back men's doubles titles at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, will take up residence at W Maldives from December 1 to 3, 2026, and every guest at the resort can join a free one-hour coaching session with him during the stay.

For fans who want more than a group clinic, there's a bigger prize. Through Marriott Bonvoy Moments, members can bid until November 14, 2026 on a package pairing a private coaching session with Wang with a four-night stay in a Premier Overwater One-Bedroom Villa from December 2 to 6, 2026. The winning bidder and a guest also get full board with non-alcoholic drinks at select venues, a sunset drinks-and-canapés evening on Gaathafushi — the resort's private castaway island — a signature 60-minute spa treatment each, a guided snorkel on the house reef, and shared seaplane transfers from Velana International Airport.

W Maldives itself sits in North Ari Atoll, a 25-minute seaplane hop from Malé, and is known for its award-winning house reef, nurse shark encounters, sunset cruises and its bold, party-leaning take on island luxury.

The badminton announcement is part of a wider sporting push across the Maldives. At CROSSROADS Maldives, the SAii Lagoon resort will host the country's first FIP Silver Women's Padel tournament from November 5 to 8, 2026, with 26 international players including eight ranked in the world's top 100 — headlined by Spain's Nuria Rodriguez (world No. 24) and Marta Talavan (No. 36). Spectator entry is open to everyone, and aspiring players can join masterclasses with the Spanish stars at USD 450 a day or USD 1,200 for the full four days, which include four hours of daily training, a dinner with the pros and access to tournament matches. Private one-on-one coaching with Finland's Martina Minetti or Britain's Rosie Pooley runs November 2 to 4 at USD 200 an hour, or USD 400 for an hour of matchplay against two professionals.

Kandooma Maldives has joined the racket-sport wave too, opening a pickleball court daily from 6am to 6pm, with paddles and balls available at Reception and one free hour of court time per villa each day.

And for those whose sporting holiday happens underwater: dive operator Best Dives Maldives picked up two honours at the World Luxury Travel Awards 2026, named Best Diving Experience in Indian Ocean Islands and Best Diving Centre in Indian Ocean. The company has more than two decades in the country and runs diving, watersports, excursions and yacht charters with resort partners across the atolls.

Why it matters: racket sports are quietly becoming a reason to book the Maldives, not just a rainy-day backup. Whether it's a free hour with an Olympic champion, padel masterclasses by the Indian Ocean, or a casual pickleball game before breakfast, the options now go well beyond the overwater villa. Badminton fans and Marriott Bonvoy members have the clearest deadline — bids for the Wang Chi-Lin package close November 14, 2026.