Meet The Athletes Chosen To Represent Malta At This Year’s Commonwealth Games
The 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games are kicking off tomorrow, and Malta will be joining 70 nations and territories on Australia’s Gold Coast for a shot at glory… and a medal or two.
Over 6,600 athletes will be participating in the 18 different sporting disciplines of this year’s Games, and Malta is sending 25 of its best to compete in eight different categories.
Here are the Maltese hopefuls who will be representing the white and red as of tomorrow, and the eight sports they’ll be competing in
1. Athletics
Andrew Cassar Torregiani
Ian Paul Grech
Charlotte Wingfield
2. Cycling
David Treacy
Alexander Smyth
3. Gymnastics
Sana Grillo
4. Lawn Bowls
Brendan Aquilina
Sharon Callus
Shaun Parnis
Connie-Leigh Rixon
Rebecca Rixon
Rosemary Rixon
This year sees the Rixhon trio, two sisters and their mother, competing side-by-side
5. Shooting
Marlon Attard
Eleonor Bezzina
Brian Galea
Nathan Lee Xuereb
William Chetcuti
6. Squash
Bradley Hindle
Dianne Kellas
Daniel Zammit Lewis
Colette Sultana
7. Weightlifting
Yazmin Zammit Stevens
8. Wrestling
David Galea
Adam Vella
Gary Giordimaina
Young wrestler Gary Giordimaina was chosen for the coveted honour of being Team Malta’s Flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony
Malta has been participating in the Commonwealth Games since 1958, and is not new to victories. In the 12th year of its participating, the Maltese delegation took home four medals in judo and shooting.
Team Malta arrived on the Gold Coast last week, benefitting from an earlier arrival to ward off jetlag symptoms.
This morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat met the athletes, along with the Chef de Mission Paul Sultana. Dr. Muscat was joined by his delegation; Minister Carmelo Abela and Parliamentary Secretary Clifton Grima.
“Malta is looking forward to be part of eleven days of world-class sporting competition,” Paul Sultana said. ” Team spirit is very high and we are positive that our athletes will be giving it their all in the coming days”.
The Opening Ceremony for the 2018 Commonwealth Games will be taking place tomorrow at the Carrara Stadium, while the Games officially kick off on Thursday 5th April.
Photos by DOI / Jason Borg
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