National record for Zammit Stevens, Lawn bowlers make it to the semi-finals

Team Malta gave strong and positive performances today in Day 3 of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Yazmin Zammit Stevens, right, the only member of Team Malta who qualified for the Games on her own merit, set three new national records on her way to an overall score of 174kg, a new national record.

Zammit Stevens placed seventh from 16 lifters, producing a solid performance in snatch and registering record lifts of 77kgs and 79kgs in the process. Canada’s Maude Charron won the gold medal with a total of 220kg.

Maltese Lawn Bowls has raised hopes for the possibility of Malta winning a medal at the Games when the Women’s Fours and Men’s Pairs both went on to reach the semi-final stage after a nail biting performance in both events.

The quartet, made up of Sharon Callus, Rosemarie, Rebecca and Connie-Leigh Rixon kept Maltese supporters biting their nails until the very end in their game against India, which resulted in a close 1311 win. This was Malta’s second victory over India after beating them 20-15 in the group stage.

Malta will now face South Africa in today’s semi-final after the latter beat New Zealand 16-8.

Despite being considered as underdogs, having suffered a 22-11 defeat against Australian’s Brett Wilkie and Aaron Wilson in group stages, Brendan Aquilina and Shaun Parnis caused a major upset in the pairs competition when they knocked out hosts Australia 15-13 in the quarter finals to remain with hopes of winning a medal at the Games.

Battling against former world champion Wilkie and Australian Open champion Wilson, Aquilina and Parnis kept their cool and went on to win with a score of 15- 13. Parnis and Aquilina will now face Scotland.

The winner of the match will proceed to the gold medal final while the losers will contest the play-off for a bronze medal.

Team Malta will be in action today in Athletics (Charlotte Wingfield), Lawn Bowls and Shooting – Skeet (Marlon Attard).