The Maltese contingent taking part in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, yesterday morning paid a courtesy visit on The President, Dr George Abela, at The Palace, in Valletta.

It was a cordial meeting during which the President augured success to all the athletes, to whom he spoke individually as well.

The Squash team and the seven Lawn Bowls team members could not attend the meeting as they are flying to India from Australia.

Dr Abela told the athletes that he had been following what was happening these last few days and said he was glad to hear that the Maltese had decided to take part. “It is important that Malta is represented at these Games,” the president was reported as having told those present.

It is known that the MOC told the athletes that they (the athletes) had to decide whether to go or not, but all the athletes have accepted to form part of the contingent.

Chef de Mission Julian Pace Bonello and his assistant, Dr Lucianne Attard, will start the ball rolling as they leave Malta on their way to Delhi today. General Secretary Joe Cassar will be leaving tomorrow, while the bulk of the athletes will be travelling on Friday.

The contingent

MOC officials

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, MOC president, Joe Cassar, MOC secretary general.

Officials

Julian Pace Bonello, MOC vice-president and Chef de Mission, Dr Lucienne Attard, Ass. Chef de Mission and head of medical team, Milos Stanisavljevic, physiotherapist, and Ms Adele Muscat, sports psychologist/administration.

Athletics

Rebecca Camilleri

Lawn Bowls

Brendan Aquilina, Leonard Callus, Michael Debono, Shaun Parnis, Joe Saragozza, Carmen Spiteri, Frank Vella. Coach Troy Sommerville. Reserve player/coach John Borg.

Squash

Michael Fiteni, Bradley Hindle Deguara. Coach Liz Said.

Shooting

Jason John Aquilina, Nazzareno Attard, Eleonor Bezzina, Kate Cassar, William Chetcuti, Clive Farrugia, Rebecca Madyson, Darren Vella, William Vella, Nathan Lee Xuereb. Coach Jimmy Bugeja. Official/coach Saviour Portelli.

Weightlifting

Emmanuel Schembri. Coach Stephen Borg.

Wrestling

Abraham Vassallo. Coach Jesmond Giordemaina.