2008: Sports
by Antoine Busuttil, MaltaMedia's Sports Editor
Participation in the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the success obtained by Aaron Ciantar in the Powerboat P1 Supersport class were the main highlights in sport during 2008.
After racing with his sister Audrienne in previous seasons on their own Chaudron powerboat, Aaron Ciantar joined Italian Angelo Tedeschi in the team Conam Yachts – on board another Chaudron powerboat - to win the championship in the Powerboat P1 Supersport class. The championship consisted of six races which were held in Italy, France, Malta, Tunisia, Spain and Portugal. They made sure of the title in Spain, with one race remaining.
In the Beijing Olympics, Malta was represented by William Chetcuti, Marcon Bezzina, Ryan Gambin, Madeleine Scerri, Charlene Attard and Nikolai Portelli. Team Malta took part in four different disciplines including shooting, swimming, judo and athletics.
In the double trap event in shooting William Chetcuti hit a total of 136 out of 150 and after a shoot-off to qualify for the final barrage, he finished 8th overall. This was the best ever placing for a Maltese athlete in the Olympic Games. Thanks to this achievement, he also won the Platinum Award in the MOC Sports Awards.
In swimming, Ryan Gambin was the first Maltese to qualify in a B qualifying time of 00:54,33 in the European Championships in Eindhoven to participate in these games. He established a new national record in one of the 100m butterfly heats. He placed 48th overall. Madeleine Scerri took part in the 100m freestyle event where she established a national record of 00:57.97 to win the heat.
Charlene Attard placed sixth in one of the heats in the Women's 100m event while Nicolai Portelli failed to improve his personal best time in the 200m when he finished last in one of the heats of the Men's 200m event.
In football, 2008 will be remembered for the biggest ever win for the national team. A 7-1 win over Liechtenstein in a friendly match at the National Stadium. Michael Mifsud will definitely remember the game for managing to score no less than five goals. Aside from this incredible win and a win over Iceland in the Malta International Tournament, it was a most disappointing year for the national team due to defeats to Armenia and Belarus in the same tournament, defeats to Austria and Estonia in friendly matches in summer, four defeats in the first four 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Portugal, Albania, Denmark and Hungary and another defeat in a friendly match to Iceland in November.
On domestic level, Valletta claimed the BOV Premier League championship with Birkirkara settling for the U*BET FA Trophy. The Stripes won the Euro Challenge Cup early this season with Valletta claiming the BOV Super Cup.
The Women’s Basketball national team won the Gold Medal and promotion in the FIBA Europe Division C – a tournament which was held in Luxembourg in July. After beating Albania, Scotland and Wales in the group phase, Malta defeated Andorra in the semi-finals and Albania in the final.
In the European Eight Ball Pool Championships which were held in Malta, Malta claimed the title. Malta finished second in the group stage but then defeated Wales 8-3 in the semi-finals and world champions England 8-4 in the final. Malta then met England in the semi-finals of the World Championships. This time, England won 11-6. One of the Maltese players – Clayton Attard was voted Best Player of the tournament after winning the largest number of frames in the team event.
The national waterpolo team placed second in the Comen Cup which was held in Malta. Malta defeated Cyprus, Switzerland, Great Britain and Greek side C.N. Chania but lost against strong Italian side Rari Nantes Sori, who won the tournament. Malta placed second.
In shooting, Ryan Bugeja won the first ever medal for Malta in the Youth Commonwealth Games which were held in Pune, India. Bugeja took part in the trap, placing second with a total of 127 out of 150 to claim silver.
Clive Farrugia won a gold medal in the Skeet Individual event in the European Commonwealth Shooting Championships in Gibraltar. He also another gold medal together with Darren Vella in the Pairs event. Lawrence Darmanin and William Vella won a silver medal in the same championships as they took part in the 10M Air Rifle Pairs event.
The women’s squash team, made up of Annabelle Olivieri Munroe, Theresa Brousson, Johanna Rizzo and Colette Sultana, won their ninth gold medal in the history of the European Small Nations Games after winning the tournament which was held in Monaco. The Maltese team once again dominated the tournament. The Malta Team beat favourites Luxembourg 2-1 and Monaco 3-0, defeating Liechtenstein 3-0 in the final. Annabelle Olivieri Munroe placed second in the Individual Tournament. In the semi-finals, she had to play against Johanna Rizzo. Theresa Brousson defeated Rizzo 3-2 in the final for third place.
In the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Elusive crew secured third place overall out of 78 yachts. Elusive placed second in her class and was also the first Maltese boat on corrected time.
In Lawn Bowls, Malta took part in the World Cup Indoor which was held in Australia. Malta placed third as Shaun Parnis managed to reach the semi-finals.
Another important achievement was that of Keith Galea in triathlon who won the All-Age group African Triathlon Championships which was held in Tunisia.
by Antoine Busuttil, MaltaMedia's Sports Editor
Participation in the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the success obtained by Aaron Ciantar in the Powerboat P1 Supersport class were the main highlights in sport during 2008.
After racing with his sister Audrienne in previous seasons on their own Chaudron powerboat, Aaron Ciantar joined Italian Angelo Tedeschi in the team Conam Yachts – on board another Chaudron powerboat - to win the championship in the Powerboat P1 Supersport class. The championship consisted of six races which were held in Italy, France, Malta, Tunisia, Spain and Portugal. They made sure of the title in Spain, with one race remaining.
In the Beijing Olympics, Malta was represented by William Chetcuti, Marcon Bezzina, Ryan Gambin, Madeleine Scerri, Charlene Attard and Nikolai Portelli. Team Malta took part in four different disciplines including shooting, swimming, judo and athletics.
In the double trap event in shooting William Chetcuti hit a total of 136 out of 150 and after a shoot-off to qualify for the final barrage, he finished 8th overall. This was the best ever placing for a Maltese athlete in the Olympic Games. Thanks to this achievement, he also won the Platinum Award in the MOC Sports Awards.
In swimming, Ryan Gambin was the first Maltese to qualify in a B qualifying time of 00:54,33 in the European Championships in Eindhoven to participate in these games. He established a new national record in one of the 100m butterfly heats. He placed 48th overall. Madeleine Scerri took part in the 100m freestyle event where she established a national record of 00:57.97 to win the heat.
Charlene Attard placed sixth in one of the heats in the Women's 100m event while Nicolai Portelli failed to improve his personal best time in the 200m when he finished last in one of the heats of the Men's 200m event.
In football, 2008 will be remembered for the biggest ever win for the national team. A 7-1 win over Liechtenstein in a friendly match at the National Stadium. Michael Mifsud will definitely remember the game for managing to score no less than five goals. Aside from this incredible win and a win over Iceland in the Malta International Tournament, it was a most disappointing year for the national team due to defeats to Armenia and Belarus in the same tournament, defeats to Austria and Estonia in friendly matches in summer, four defeats in the first four 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Portugal, Albania, Denmark and Hungary and another defeat in a friendly match to Iceland in November.
On domestic level, Valletta claimed the BOV Premier League championship with Birkirkara settling for the U*BET FA Trophy. The Stripes won the Euro Challenge Cup early this season with Valletta claiming the BOV Super Cup.
The Women’s Basketball national team won the Gold Medal and promotion in the FIBA Europe Division C – a tournament which was held in Luxembourg in July. After beating Albania, Scotland and Wales in the group phase, Malta defeated Andorra in the semi-finals and Albania in the final.
In the European Eight Ball Pool Championships which were held in Malta, Malta claimed the title. Malta finished second in the group stage but then defeated Wales 8-3 in the semi-finals and world champions England 8-4 in the final. Malta then met England in the semi-finals of the World Championships. This time, England won 11-6. One of the Maltese players – Clayton Attard was voted Best Player of the tournament after winning the largest number of frames in the team event.
The national waterpolo team placed second in the Comen Cup which was held in Malta. Malta defeated Cyprus, Switzerland, Great Britain and Greek side C.N. Chania but lost against strong Italian side Rari Nantes Sori, who won the tournament. Malta placed second.
In shooting, Ryan Bugeja won the first ever medal for Malta in the Youth Commonwealth Games which were held in Pune, India. Bugeja took part in the trap, placing second with a total of 127 out of 150 to claim silver.
Clive Farrugia won a gold medal in the Skeet Individual event in the European Commonwealth Shooting Championships in Gibraltar. He also another gold medal together with Darren Vella in the Pairs event. Lawrence Darmanin and William Vella won a silver medal in the same championships as they took part in the 10M Air Rifle Pairs event.
The women’s squash team, made up of Annabelle Olivieri Munroe, Theresa Brousson, Johanna Rizzo and Colette Sultana, won their ninth gold medal in the history of the European Small Nations Games after winning the tournament which was held in Monaco. The Maltese team once again dominated the tournament. The Malta Team beat favourites Luxembourg 2-1 and Monaco 3-0, defeating Liechtenstein 3-0 in the final. Annabelle Olivieri Munroe placed second in the Individual Tournament. In the semi-finals, she had to play against Johanna Rizzo. Theresa Brousson defeated Rizzo 3-2 in the final for third place.
In the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the Elusive crew secured third place overall out of 78 yachts. Elusive placed second in her class and was also the first Maltese boat on corrected time.
In Lawn Bowls, Malta took part in the World Cup Indoor which was held in Australia. Malta placed third as Shaun Parnis managed to reach the semi-finals.
Another important achievement was that of Keith Galea in triathlon who won the All-Age group African Triathlon Championships which was held in Tunisia.