William Chetcuti and Sue Abela voted best athletes of the year. World champion Aaron Ciantar gets the highest number of votes with the powerboats winning team.

William Chetcuti and Sue Abela were voted as the best athletes for year 2008 in the annual National Sporting contest organised by the Sports Writers Association and Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport.

Shooter William Chetcuti obtained 368 votes, preceding jockey Charles Degiorgio with 265 and snooker player Alex Borg with 218.

In the female athlete competition, bowler Sue Abela edged athlete Martina Xuereb 281 votes against 271. Third place was obtained by Squash player Annabelle Munroe with 243 votes.

In the team event, the Powerboats team made up of Italian skipper Tedeschi and local hero Aaron Ciantar who were crowned world champions, ran out easy winners totaling a record of 383 votes.

The women’s national basketball team was placed second with a total of 256 votes followed by the men’s national waterpolo team with a total of 223 votes.

The official of the year contest was won by Salvu Portelli, President of the Malta Shooting Federation who obtained a total of 293 votes. He was followed by the Malta Olympic Committee Secretary, Joe Cassar who obtained 263 votes. Malta Judo Federation President Envic Galea obtained a total of 229 votes to finish third.

Two promising shooters finished in the top places of the under-17 best athlete contest. Ryan Bugeja obtained 353 votes followed by Clive Farrugia with 237. Sqaush player Colette Sultana obtained third place with 231 votes.

Sport journalist Henry Calleja was presented with a special memento for his long serving career. Presentation was made by Italian shooter Francesco D’Agnello winner of the silver medal in the Double Trap event in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.