Three gold medals for Team Malta on opening day of Invitational Games

The Malta Invitational Games kicked off on Thursday with Maltese taekwondo athletes and bowlers winning medals on the first day of competition.

The Maltese Olympic Committee are organising these Games to boost those disciplines that do not form part of the sports programme in next year’s GSSE in Malta.

This four-day sports festival is replacing the now-defunct Friendship Games which were previously organised by the Maltese Olympic Committee and CONI Sicilia.

Around 180 athletes from 10 countries, namely Andorra, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Iceland, Luxembourg, Montenegro, San Marino and Malta are competing in these Games.

In Taekwondo, Michela Scerri secured the gold medal, whilst Alycia Cassar, Nathan Degiorgio and Samuel Vella obtained a silver medal after hard-fought bouts.  

Luke Chircop also gave a good account of himself and won the bronze in his category. 

A number of exhibition matches were held for the younger athletes, with Jean Schembri winning his competition against the Faroe Islands.

Noah Kitcher and the youngest athlete in the team, six-year-old Dwayne Micallef also won their fights. 

Female athlete Areti-Christina Chamaleli won her exhibition fight against Mirian Poulson from the Faroe Islands.

Maltese bowlers, competing in the singles event also had a great start with two gold and one bronze medal.  

After six games of play, Dennis Mercieca won gold in the male category, finishing just three pins better than his closest rival.

Cynthia Frendo Duca also triumphed in the females category while Tiziana Carannante took bronze for Team Malta, finishing just nine pins clear of the fourth-placed bowler.

Competitions continue on Friday.