Maltese weightlifters book their berth at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games

The Maltese Olympic Committee announced the first members of its contingent to the Commonwealth Games which will take place in Birmingham between July 28 and August 8.

The first athletes to be announced are weightlifters Yazmin Zammit Stevens, Tenishia Thornton, Roberta Tabone and Elisa Scicluna.  

Birmingham will be Zammit Stevens’ second Commonwealth participation but for the rest of the lifters, this will be their debut at these high-level Games.

Zammit Stevens and Thornton managed to qualify for the Games and will be competing in the 64kg and 59kg female categories respectively. 

At 16 years of age, Thornton will be one of the youngest athletes on the contingent.

Meanwhile, following a reallocation of categories, Tabone and Scicluna will be competing in the 71kg and 87kg+ classes respectively.

“This is the first time that Malta will have multiple weightlifters in their contingent,” Charlene Attard, MOC’s Director of Sports and Games Chef de Mission said.

“It is also very encouraging to see that these athletes have qualified on their own merit, showing that the investment in this sport is producing results. We are confident that these athletes can deliver good results in Birmingham.”

On his part, Malta Weightlifting Association president Jesmond Caruana expressed his satisfaction at the improvement in the level at which Maltese lifters are competing, which in turn is garnering a lot of interest from new athletes, thus enabling a growth in the sport.