The competitive season of Badminton Malta has seen the recent start of the H2Only Mixed League.

This season, several amendments have been carried out to this competition’s format with the intention of enhancing the balance between the competing teams, thereby heightening its interest and excitement.

The top two local clubs – Pawla Wolves Schtag and Birkirkara BC – will be contesting the Premier Division title. Their first teams will be playing each other five times over a three-month period in order to determine the winner of the team championship title.

The first fixture of the Premier Division saw Pawla Wolves Schtag defeat their eternal rivals B’Kara BC with a clear 4-1 scoreline.

Captained by Kenneth Vella, the Wolves controlled the encounter well and left little room for their opponents.

B’Kara drew first blood by taking the opening Men’s Singles through their captain, Stefan Salomone, who defeated the Wolves’ Indian player Yogesh Mistry 21/12 -21/16.

However, the Paolites quickly put the match on an even keel when their Dutch player Didi Rasamayii won her Ladies’ Singles encounter against Maria Borg 21/8-21/2.

B’Kara attempted to regain the lead in the Men’s Doubles through Stefan Salomone/Aldo Polidano. However, though they came close by taking the first set, they only managed to stretch David Cole/Yogesh Mistry to three sets with the Wolves’ duo winning the game 15/21-21/12-21/19.

Pawla Wolves Schtag then put the match beyond their opponents’ reach to go 3-1 ahead by taking also the Ladies’ Doubles in which Catherine Dimech/Didi Rasamayii defeated Rachel Attard/Fiorella Farrugia 21/12-21/13.

The remaining Mixed Doubles only served to underline the Wolves’ superiority, with Kenneth Vella/Catherine Dimech winning over the B’Kara pair Aldo Polidano/Fiorella Farrugia 21/17-21/11 to give an overall

4-1 result for the Paolites.