ASA president Robbie Ebejer confirmed yesterday that Madeleine Scerri (photo) was close to joining Ryan Gambin as a Malta swimmer at the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

He confirmed that according to the points system drawn up to make a swimmer qualify, it seemed as if Scerri was the only swimmer so far to emerge as a potential candidate.

It is to be remembered that Gambin had qualified to take part in the Olympics at the European Championships in Germany earlier this year.

When Scerri, as is expected, obtains the qualifying standard she needs to become eligible, her application by the ASA will still have to be ratified by the Maltese Olympic Committee