The Malta Independent on Sunday
Finalists of National Sports Contests announced
The finalists of the National Sports Contests for 2018 – Sport Malta Awards – Ghazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali - were announced yesterday morning during a ceremony at the Admiral’s Hall at Fort St Angelo in Vittoriosa.
Seven categories are being contested. These are Sportsman, Sportswoman, Official, Team, Coach, Male Youth, Female Youth and there is also the People’s Choice Award.
The finalists in each category are: Sportsman of the Year: Isaac Bezzina – Judo; Justin Caruana Sciclunan - Ten Pin Bowling; Stefan Farrugia Bowls – Raffa; Brian Galea – Trap Shooting; Rodney Gatt – Racing.
Sportswoman of the Year: Eleanor Bezzina-Shooting – air pistol; Hannah Pace – traiathlon; Colette SultanaSquash; Charlotte Wingfield – Athletics; Sara Xuereb – tenpin bowling; Yazmin Stevens - Weightlifting
Official of the Year: Stephen Aquilina – Shooting; Frans Bugeja (Billiards/Snooker; Anna Calleja – Special Olympics; Vincent Degiorgio – Pool; Bernard Vassallo – Basketball.
Team of the Year: National basketball team; National football team Men U19; Lawn Bowls national team; Rugby Men’s national team; Men’s national waterpolo team. Coach of the Year: Jesmond Caruana - weightlifting; Damien Neil-Rugby; Karl Izzo – Waterpolo; Winston Muscat – Football; Andrea Paccarie – Basketball.
Male Youth of the Year: Jurgen Balzan – table football; Elaida Jacob – Athletics; Jake Muscat – Waterpolo; Kijan Sultana – Squash; Saul Vassallo – Sailing. Female Youth of the Year: Ella Borg – Gymnastics; Francesca Curmi – Tennis; Francesca Falzon Young – Swimming; Shelby Mangion Vassallo – Weightlifting; Sara Xuereb – Tenpin bowling. The People’s Choice Award: Brian Galea – Shooting Trap; Robert Portelli – Rugby; Fabio Spiteri – Triathlon; Rebecca Xuereb - Gymnastics; Yazmin Zammit Stevens – Weightlifting.
Addressing those present yesterday, Dr Clifton Grima, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Sport, said he was glad to be among several members of the Maltese sporting family.
He added he was aware of the sacrifices, dedication and daily work of the athletes, officials and coaches, as they work all year round to achieve success for themselves in the name of the country.
He thanked everyone and appealed to them to be proud of what they were doing, especially their achievements in the international field.
He also thanked all those who have contributed towards the organisation of these Awards, now in their 59th edition.
Earlier, the Director of the Organising Committee, Mark Cutajar, said these Awards will again be a Celebration of Sport.
He invited all those present to attend next Saturday’s presentation ceremony at the Malta Hilton to celebrate a year of successes.
He said in sport, there is always a winner, but all those who participate are also winners, because they also represent the country successfully in one way or another.
The president of the Ghaqda Gurnalisti Sport, Sportswriters Association, Sandro Micallef, also addressed the gathering.
He paid tribute to a colleague – Benny Casha – who passed away a few days ago.
He also appealed to all athletes to be proud especially when representing the country and achieving success.
He also thanked all those in the Organising Committee who worked so hard to stage this year’s event successfully.