Yesterday was another positive day for Malta at the Games for European Small States in Liechtenstein.

After yesterday’s results, our medals tally has improved to three golds, nine silver and seven bronze.

Certainly not bad considering that we have a number of potential medal winners missing because their sport is not included in these Games.

And I expect the tally to improve further today as the Squash team members also seem to be potential medal winners while there are also high hopes of another excellent performance by the athletes on the track on the last day of competition.

It has been a tournament full of encouraging performances so far, though we have also had a number of disappointing results.

But on the whole, it has been a satisfactory performance so far which augurs well for the future.

Athletics once again proved to be the main provider of medals – a mixture of gold, silver and bronze – but mention must also be made of the Squash teams (men and women) who have dominated the scene here with some impressive scores and victories which led them to two golds and now are in a good position to challenge for more gold today, the final day of the Games.

It is only fair to state that it was not only those who won medals that have made Malta proud of their achievements.

There were several others who produced excellent performances such as the men’s swimming relay team which clipped 11 seconds off the previous record – a real pity that such a feat was not enough to see them through to the final. But after all, that only showed what kind of competition our kids are facing in these Games – not just in swimming, but in all the disciplines.

It is not the ideal moment to make an assessment because the Games are not over yet. But I feel I must say ‘Keep it up Malta’ to further encourage those who will be in action today.

Most of our athletes have heeded the MOC’s advice to give their hearts and produce their best in the name of country. Only one final effort remains. This afternoon we should be celebrating an even better result than we have had till yesterday.