Malta Pickleball receives the first TGS Fair Play Award for 2024

The Malta National Pickleball Team are the winners of the first TGS Malta Fair Play Award for the year 2024. This quarterly award, handed by The Malta Fair Play Movement in collaboration with the Malta Sports Journalists Association and Together Gam‐ ing Solutions, is aimed at sporting individuals or teams who would have distinguished themselves with an altruistic gesture of fair play during official and/or non‐ official competitions.

On the 9th & 10th of March 2024, Malta Pickleball organized its very first International Team Event Tournament in Malta, held at De La Salle College. It consisted of 19+ teams and 50+ Teams.

During the 50+ Team event final which was held on the 10th of March between Malta and the UK a commendable gesture was witnessed.

During the men's doubles match, one of the UK players, Tony Thompson, could not con‐ tinue playing due to an unfortu‐ nate fall during a point which got him badly injured. Thus, this match could not be completed.

This team tournament con‐ sisted of one men's doubles match, one ladies’ doubles match, and 2 mixed doubles matches per encounter. Thompson’s team could not carry on the final en‐ counter without him and were ready to award Malta a walk‐ over, giving Malta a win and fin‐ ish in the first place.

After an immediate discussion, the Malta Team decided that both Malta and the UK should be awarded a joint first. It was nei‐ ther fair nor satisfactory for the Malta Team to win over the UK with a walkover due to such an unfortunate fall.

"The altruist decision of the Malta Pickleball team to share their victory with the UK team, despite an opportunity for an easy win, exemplifies the true spirit of sportsmanship," said Edward Licari, Director of To‐ gether Gaming Solutions.

The presentation of the TGS Malta Fair Play Award was hosted by Andrea Critien from the Finance & HR Department and Edward Licari, Director of Together Gaming Solutions, at their offices in St. Julian’s. Charles Camenzuli was present on behalf of the Malta Fair Play Movement, while Stephen Az‐ zopardi (MSJA Administrator) and Josef Galdes (MSJA Executive Committee member) repre‐ sented the Malta Sports Journal‐ ists Association.

Members of the public, teams, or officials can notify the Malta Sports Journalists Association and the Malta Fair Play Move‐ ment of any fair play gesture, by contacting them at info@maltas‐ portsjournalists.com for consid‐ eration.