Last few weeks for Malta Weightlifting to host Olympic qualification event

As we welcome February after a busy start to 2020, the MWA are now in the final preparations for the greatly anticipated Malta Weightlifting International Open set to take place at the end of this month. This competition is nothing like previously organsised by the MWA as for the first time, Malta will be hosting a Silver Olympic Qualification event as part of the qualification system needed by Olympic Hopefuls for the upcoming Games in Tokyo.

This Olympic Qualification will see 135 top athletes from 33 different countries coming from all part of the world. Participation, including 3 time Olympic Medallist Lydia Valentin from Spain, Current European Champion and World Championships Medallist Loredeana Toma from Romania. The list of well known names in the sport goes on and on.

As can be appreciated, an Olympic qualification event is bound to see big names as mentioned, and we're also sure they are ready to come and put on a show. For many, this Olympic Qualification in Malta will be one of their last before the Games, which means they will need to post an impressive total to secure a place at the Olympics.

The Maltese National team selected to participate in this highly anticipated event is made up of 3 women, Yasmin Zammit Stevens, who is currently the only athlete actively doing the qualifications event for the Games will be doing her best on home soil. After a difficult start to the year due to being sick in her first meet in Rome, she is ready to put on a show for her

Maltese Followers at the end of this month. 14 year Old Tenishia Thornton also made the qualification. An impressive achievement by such a young athlete to qualify in a huge senior event such as this, she will be competing in the 45kg category. Finally, Roberta Tabone will complete the team and compete in the 71kg category.

Jesmond Caruana, the President of the MWA has been working tirelessly preapring for this event for several months. The competition will be held at the Paradise Bay Hotel resort and Spa in Cirkewwa, the same hotel that will accommodate the athletes. A huge investment had been made early last year in a competition stage that would be fit for a meet such as this one. Furthermore, a great amount of equipment shall be used during the event for all 3 aspects being the actual competition, the warm up area and also in the training area. Caruana is no stranger to massive events such as this in the international scene; since he has been selected as technical official for even the biggest meet including the Olympic Games, and therefore this competition is set up to be a success. Thanks also to Sport Malta, Olympic Committee, International federations and other Sponsors for their support.

The Competitions will be held on Saturday 29th February and Sunday 1st March at the Paradise bay Hotel Resort and Spa in Cirkewwa. The provisional timetable and entry list will be posted by the MWA closer to the date.