Malta’s women’s team have done it again. Theresa Camilleri (back in squad after an absence of four years, Annabelle Olivieri Monroe (Diamantino) and Johanna Rizzo made Malta proud by winning this ESF prestigious tournament in Riga, Latvia, after participating with a full team for the first time.

The team had to overcome Latvia, Serbia, Russia, and Ukraine in the qualifying round and ended up in the semi finals against a strong Polish national team.

National Coach Ivan Balzan rested Theresa and fielded Annabelle and Johanna who played brilliantly to win both matches which landed the girls in the final against favourites Isle of Man, both these girls did not concede one set in their run up for the semi- final.

The Malta men’s team also had a brilliant run in this tournament. In the first round pool Mike Fiteni, Bernard Bugeja, Ivan Balzan and Karl Grech Orr played brilliantly to finish top of the group winning against Isle of Man, Croatia and Ukraine.

Ending up in the quarter finals of this tournament the Malta Team was the surprise of all.

In the quarter-final match against a young team from Gibraltar, Ivan Balzan lost 3-1. Malta’s no 1 Mike Fiteni produced a fine display of masterly squash and easily disposed of his No 1 counterpart.

With the teams being deadlocked at one-all, Bernard Bugeja went on court as the underdog but surprised his opponent with a brilliant display of squash skills and fitness.

The game was at two-all and Bernard was on the brink of upsetting the eventual finalists when he sustained an injury which hindered him in the last few points. Malta lost 2-1.

The Malta team ended up in seventh place but vowed to be back next year to win this tournament.

It is worth noting that Mike Fiteni was the best player of this tournament conceding not more than an average of six points per match to each opponent.

Malta Squash thanked the Maltese Olympic Committee and Kunsill Malti Ghall-Isport for their support, without which they would not have been able to take part in such an event.