The eligible Boris Pazanski of Serbia and Montenegro is among the favourites to win the gold medal in the singles event at the Andorra Games.

This was confirmed yesterday after a protest from the Icelandic Federation about his eligibility was not upheld by the organising committee.

It was known earlier that the Icelanders had lodged a protest last week and the Malta Olympic Committee had replied by lodging their own protest over the eligibility of one of their own players.

These protests were discussed yesterday and later it was known that the two players were declared eligible to play.

Dr David Farrugia Sacco, general secretary of the Malta Tennis Federation, said Pazanski was almost certain to reach the final, at least. "That is why all this fuss about his participation. And we are also convinced that Lisa Camenzuli will be putting in a strong performance which might also earn her a place on the podium in the singles event," he said.

It is the first time since tennis was introduced in the Monaco Games in 1987, that the tennis squad does not include either Helen Asciak or Carol Cassar Torreggiani (formerly Curmi). Together they had won Malta’s first ever doubles gold medal at the Monaco Games.

In the draws, Pazanski and Monaco’s Benjamin Balleret received a bye and as two seeded players they will play directly in the second round. Pazenski will meet the winner of the game between San Marino’s Porcellini or Besimo from Leichtenstein.

In the meantime, other Maltee participant Daniel Ceross will play Iceland’s Amar Sigurdsson in the first round today.