These last 12 months marked another year in the history of the local Badminton Association, a year full of competitive activities for its several members.

It was a year which was characterised by the protagonists of the individual and team competitions. It was also a year which saw Maltese Badminton leave its positive mark on the international scène.

The following were the principal events of the year.

The 34th edition of the EuroSport National Championships lived up to their reputation as the major event in the Badminton Association’s calendar. Since its 1998 edition, this event has been designated as the “Paddy Stubbs Memorial Championships” in memory of this great philanthropist and sports benefactor.

The following were the winners of the various national titles:

Men’s Singles – Plate Event:Albert Bezzina

Men’s Singles: Stefan Salomone

Ladies’ Singles: Jacqueline De Giovanni

Men’s Doubles: Robert Salomone / Stefan Salomone

Ladies’ Doubles: Jo’Anne Cassar / Catherine Dimech

Mixed Doubles: Jacqueline De Giovanni / Stefan Salomone

By taking the Singles, Doubles and Mixed national titles, Stefan Salomone won the first Triple Crown of his sporting career.

In the first division of the H2Only Mixed League, B’Kara 1565 rightly claimed their crown at the end of a competition which they led from start to finish and throughout which they were never defeated, having only dropped two points in a drawn match against runners-up Pawla Wolves Schtag.

In the second division of this same competition, Pawla Wolves Schtag equally deserved their title at the end of a competition in which they were similarly never defeated, having only dropped two points in a drawn first round encounter against runners-up B’Kara Red Lion.

The H2Only Singles League evidenced the eternal struggle between the established players and those who are striving to emerge. The following were the winners of the various categories:

Division 1: 1. Kenneth Vella. 2. Stefan Salomone.

Division 2: 1. Adrian Chetcuti. 2. Albert Bezzina.

Division 3: 1. Ivan Salomone. 2. James Bugeja.

Division 4: 1. Maria Mizzi. 2. Mathilde Friggieri.

The H2Only Doubles League, played concurrently with the Singles League, continued on the same theme. Its various divisions were won by:

Division 1: 1. Robert Salomone / Stefan Salomone. 2. Kenneth Vella / Tony Xuereb.

Division 2: 1. Chris Spiteri / Maria Borg. 2. Adrian Chetcuti / Albert Bezzina.

Division 3: 1. Yvette Zarb / Maria Mizzi. 2. Jeanella Grech / Mathilde Friggieri.

National Junior

championships

The past year also saw another edition of the National Junior Championships. This event has been a regular feature of the Association’s seasonal calendar for several years, serving to put the spotlight on the emerging talents within its junior ranks.

These were the winners of the various categories:

Under-13 Boys’ Singles 1. Andre Grech.

Girls’ Singles 1. Cheryl Dimech.

Under-16 Boys’ Singles 1. Avner Vella. 2. Andre Grech.

Girls’ Singles 1. Maria Mizzi. 2. Jahel Briffa.

Boys’ Doubles 1. Andre Grech / Samuel Cali’; 2. Terence Gatt / Kevin Spiteri.

Girls’ Doubles 1. Maria Mizzi / Yvette Zarb. 2. Mathilde Friggieri / Jeanella Grech.

Under-19 Boys’ Singles 1. Adrian Chetcuti. 2. Avner Vella.

Girls’ Singles 1. Maria Borg. 2. Fiorella Farrugia.

Boys’ Doubles 1. Avner Vella / Samuel Cali. 2. Adrian Chetcuti / Edmund De Giovanni.

Girls’ Doubles 1. Maria Borg / Fiorella Farrugia. 2. Jeanella Grech / Mathilde Friggieri.

International events

International badminton made a welcome return to the local sports scene with the organisation of two events.

The sixth edition of the Malta International Youth Tournament focused on players under 18 years of age.

This year, the tournament featured the participation of two Irish teams, Wexford BC and Whiteabbey BC. Local participation was ensured by the B’Kara BC junior squad.

Whiteabbey, who were undefeated in all their matches, won this event. In the match for second place, Wexford had the better of B’Kara.

The second day of the tournament saw the individual event, in which all the tournament participants took part in separate Men’s Singles and Ladies’ Singles competitions played on a knock-out basis.

They were joined by two players from the Turkish Cypriot Badminton Federation who travelled to Malta purposely to compete solely in this event.

The Whiteabbey players equally left their mark on this competition. Two of the squad players, Andrew McKee and Grant Gardiner, contested the Men’s Singles final, which McKee ultimately made his own.

Wexford’s Laura Lynch won the Ladies’ Singles competition after defeating Whiteabbey’s Judith Brennan.

The fifth edition of the Friendship Trophy featured four British teams: Comets BC, Horsforth BC, Wimbledon BC and Clandon BC. Local opposition was provided by Pawla Wolves SC and Msida Arrows BC.

On the first day of the event, the six squads were divided into two groups and played each other on a league basis over a single round.

Horsforth topped Group A, after winning their encounters against Clandon and Pawla Wolves. The latter then clinched the runner-up berth by defeating Clandon.

Comets topped Group B after winning their encounters against Wimbledon and Msida Arrows. Wimbledon followed in second place.

In the final for first / second place played between the winners of each group, Comets won the tournament after defeating Horsforth. Pawla Wolves had the better of Wimbledon to take third place.

In the second day of the event, all the participating players took part in separate Men’s Singles and Ladies’ Singles competitions played on a knockout basis.

The Men’s Singles title was won by Horsforth’s captain Craig Liversage who had the better of Wolves’ captain Kenneth Vella in the final.

The Ladies’ Singles title was won by Comets’ Helen Steer who defeated her team mate Romana Rehman in two clear sets.