Malta took part with two wrestlers under the direction of national coach Jesmond Giordemaina at the eighth edition of the Mediterranean Seniors Free-Style international tournament a few days ago in Larnaca, Cyprus.

Besides Malta, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Tunisia and Cyprus also took part. Abraham Vassallo placed third out of nine competitors in the 84kg category. In so doing he won two bouts and lost one. In the 74kg young Jason Zammit did not manage to qualify for further rounds after losing in the first one.

Two international tournaments in Malta cancelled

The Malta Amateur Wrestling Federation decided to cancel this year’s Championship for Small Countries (below 5,000,000 in population) after 12 editions. This was due to financial loss incurred in last year’s edition as no money contribution came from the government as in previous editions. Also cancelled for the same reason was the International Friendship Tournament usually organised by the Malta University Amateur Wrestling Club.

New Youth Director

The Malta Amateur Wrestling Federation appointed Abraham Vassallo as the new Youth Director following the resignation of Lawrence Attard who is now concentrating in running his own club.

Currently the federation is concentrating a lot on youths in the schoolboy, cadet and junior divisions made up of 40 youths from three clubs.

It is organising frequent competitions for them sponsored by British Airways besides offering them regular training through its instructors.

Beach Wrestling

The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) is encouraging its national federations to introduce Beach Wrestling.

This will be introduced in Malta in the coming summer on the local beaches.

For this reason a commission within the federation made up of Jesmond Giordemaina, Abraham Vassallo and Emmanuel Cilia has been set up.

Beach Wrestling rules are very simple and anybody, male or female, can participate.