The International School Sport Federation champions are this year being held in Malta between 28 March and 4 April.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, David Azzopardi, president of the MSSF, said the federation was taking this occasion to commemorate its 35th anniversary.

He said Malta was prepared to host such a tournament which will see more than 350 people taking part, including athletes and officials.

He explained a very good standard is expected considering that China and Chinese Taipei players are also taking part, considering those countries’ high levels in the sport.

Twenty countries had been accepted from the 28 which had applied to take part, but one of them, unfortunately has had to withdraw.

“It will be a good opportunity for local youngsters to gain valuable experience at such levels by playing against such top opponents,” he said.

Also present for the news conference was the new Parliamentary Secretary for Sports and Youth, Mr Clyde Puli.

He said he was glad to see Malta hosting such a tournament which will eventually see the presence of several foreigners. “Sports tourism is important for the country. In the sports field, it helps our sportsmen and women gain experience, while in the tourism sector, it should help the local economy.”

Mr Puli also thanked Minister of Finance Tonio Fenech for offering a donation through the Good Causes Fund towards the staging of such an event.

Joe Borg Cardona, president of the Malta Table-Tennis Federation, said 19 tables would be in use – 14 in the main court and five others in the Boccidrome – at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

He also revealed that next month, Malta will be hosting a veterans’ tournament for which 40 foreigners will be coming over to challenge the locals. And next November, 16 countries will be coming over to stage training camps in the Euro Kids programme.

The sponsors of the tournament are Malta Remote Gambling Council, the Good Causes Fund and the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport.



Draws

The following are the draws:

Team events

Group A: Bulgaria, Italy, Malta, Poland, Slovakia.

Group B: Chinese Taipei, France, Israel, Latvia, Puerto Rico.

Group C: Belgium Flanders, Greece, Luxembourg, Turkey.

Group D: China, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Sweden.

Girls School teams:

Group J: Czech Republic, England, Greece, Luxembourg.

Group K: Israel, Italy, Poland, Turkey.

Group L: China, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden.

Group M: Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, France, Puerto Rico.



Boys national/selected teams

Group P: Belgium Flanders, China, England, Puerto Rico, Turkey

Group Q: Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, Greece, Latvia, Slovakia.



Girls national/selected teams

Group S: Bulgaria, China, Chinese Taipei, England, Greece, Puerto Rico, Slovakia and Turkey (one group).



Malta’s players are the following:

Boys team: Steve Bugeja, James Dawson, Daniel Portelli, Daniel Vella Fondacaro.

Singles: Jessica Pace, Marcus Portelli, Dario Portelli and Chris Attard.