The Maltese Olympic Committee celebrated sporting excellence at the annual Maltese Olympic Committee Sports Awards held on Friday evening in Attard.

Each year the Maltese Olympic Committee Sports Awards recognise the efforts, commitment, dedication and results achieved by local athletes competing and representing Malta in international sporting competitions organised under the auspices of the International Federation of that sport or a recognised and reputable International Sport Organisation.

With 2018 being the year of the XXII Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and the XVII Mediterranean Games in Tarragona, Maltese sport was particularly celebrating the medals won in these Games - namely Bronze Medal in Shooting (Brian Galea) and Lawn Bowls (Ladies Team) at the Commonwealth Games and the Bocci/Raffa Medal (Stefan Farrugia) in the Mediterrean Games.

However, the awards and recognition bestowed is not limited to these Games and the Maltese Olympic Committee is proud of the numerous achievements that Maltese athletes registered in various competitions around the world throughout the past year. 

"The Adjudicating Committee did not have an easy job when assessing the nominations. Maltese athletes have shown nothing but dedication and sacrifice to ensure their best possible performances on the international sphere" remarked Julian Pace Bonello, President, Maltese Olympic Committee. "It is always encouraging to see returning faces to the awards meaning that these athletes are still top of their game, whilst even more reassuring to see new and young faces which means a good promise for Maltese sport especially in view of the 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe which will be hosted in Malta."

William Beck, Deputy President and Chairman of the Sports Awards Organising Committee explained that the criteria for the selection of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were based on the results achieved in top level competitions.  A number of  Special Awards will be given to athletess achieved in top international competitions which were restricted by age.

Guest of honour for the evening was the San Marinese trap shooter Alessandra Perilli who has over the years collected a number of achievements on the international sporting sphere. Perilli competed in  two Olympic Games - London and Rio as well as regularly participated in World Championships. More recently she won Gold Medal in Trap at the 2018 Tarragona Mediterran Games

 

Special Awards

Malta Amateur Athletic Association	Jacob Elaida, Mariah Zahra, Omar Elaida, Sarah Chouhal
Badminton Malta	TEAM - Mark Abela & Samuel Cassar
Body Building & Fitness	Sabrina Villari, Chantal Graziani, Karim Ibrahim TEAM  - Blanche Coppola/Ralph Decelis
Malta Cycling Federation	Marie Claire Aquilina
Malta Golf Association	Laurens Schulze Doering
Malta Gymnastics Federation	Ella Borg
Malta Pool Association	TEAM - Malta Under 23's National Team TEAM - Malta Over 50's National Team, Christ Mills.
Malta Squash	Kijan Sultana
Malta Table Football Sports Association	Jamie Bonnici, Charles Aquilina, Jurgen Balzan, Jeshua Bonnici, Jason Pisani, Mario Camilleri
Malta Tennis Federation	Francesca Curmi
Malta Sailing Federation	Richard Schultheis

 

Bronze Award

Malta Amateur Athletic Association	Rachel Fitz, Janet Richard, Charlotte Wingfield
Badminton Malta	Matthew Abela
Basketball Association	Women's National Team
Malta Golf Association	Andrew Borg TEAM - Nicholas Beck, Andrew Borg, Ruud Critien, JJ Micallef
Malta Karate Federation	Joelle Farrugia
Malta Lawn Bowls Association	Brendan Aquilina, Shaun Parnis
Malta Shooting Federation	Eleanor Bezzina, Nathan Lee Xuereb
Malta Tennis Federation	TEAM - Helen Asciak, Elaine Genovese, Francesca Curmi, Brenda Galea, Emily Lightfoot. TEAM - John Sciberras, Matthew Asciak, Denzil Agius, Sudzuka Omar, Matthew Cassar Torreggiani
Malta Tenpin Bowling Association	Sue Abela
Malta Triathlon Federation	Hannah Pace

 

Silver Award

Bocce Raffa	Stefan Farrugia
Malta Golf Association	JJ Micallef
Malta Lawn Bowls Association	Brendan Aquilina
Malta Lawn Bowls Association	TEAM - Sharon Callus, Connie Rixon, Rebecca Rixon, Rosemaree Rixon
Malta Shooting Federation	Brian Galea
Malta Tennis Federation	Elaine Genovese
Malta Tenpin Bowling Association	Sara Xuereb,  TEAM - Sue Abela, Justin Caruana Scicluna, Sara Xuereb Mauro Anastasi
Malta Weightlifting Association	TEAM - Yazmin Zammit Stevens, Elisia Scicluna, Vlad Baldacchino, Matthew Camilleri, Rodmar Pulis

 

Gold Award

Basketball Association	TEAM - Men's Basketball Team
Malta Racing Club	Rodney Gatt
Malta Shooting Federation	William Chetcuti, Angelo Ciappara
Malta Table Football Sports Association	Samuel Bartolo
Malta Tenpin Bowling Association	Justin Caruana Scicluna
Malta Weightlifting Association	Yasmin Zammit Stevens

 

Hall of Fame

Gymnastics  -  Albert Chun was the person who introduced competitive gymnastics to Malta in 1993 and was also the founder of the Malta Gymnastics Federation. He brought with him over 35 years of international exposure to the sport. Through his tutelage, Maltese gymnasts were able to compete in Mediterranean Games, Island Games, Games of the Small States of Europe, European, Commonwealth and World Championships, producing some good results along the way.

Basketball - Emanuel Mangani  has been actively involved in Basketball for the past forty years, during which he demonstrated high values and commitment to the sport. As a local referee he has refereed  top local games, demonstrating high values and respecting fair play. He has been a guiding light for coaches, players and officials throughout. In 2007 he qualified as FIBA Commissioner, regularly officiating international games since then.

Bowling - Melissa Anastasi has a numerous list of accolades and championships titles since she started the sport at the age of sixteen. She has won several Medals in her participation in various editions of the Mediterranean (Silver and Gold), Commonwealth (Silver and Bronze) and European Championships (Gold) both as an individual competitor and when competing in Ladies and Mixed Doubles.

Sailing - Jovin Rausi has been actively involved in Sailing, both as a competitor, organiser and official since 1975. He has held many offices in sailing which include Founding Member and Commodore of Għadira Sailing Club, President of the Malta Sailing Federation, and Malta Boating Association, International Jury Member of the Martini Middle Sea Races in the early 80s, as well as Chairman of the 1998 and 1999 Middle Sea Races as well as a member of the Maltese Olympic Committee. He Event Director for Sailing at the 1993 and 2003 GSSE held in Malta.