Last weekend, the Malta Weightlifting Association organized a ranking and qualification event at the Cottonera Sport Complex.
The competition saw an impressive display of talent and determination from the athletes, resulting in numerous national records being shattered and personal bests being achieved.
One of the standout performances came from Kaya Curmi Inguanez in the 45kg category. With a remarkable total of 116kg, she secured qualification for the European Youth Championships.
Joining her on the team will be Kim Camilleri Lagana, who had already qualified for the championships.
The European Youth Championships are scheduled to take place in Moldova in early July, and these two athletes will proudly represent Malta on the international stage.
The men’s categories also witnessed several national records being broken.
Vlad Baldacchino made an outstanding mark in the 102kg category, setting three national records with lifts of 133kg in the Snatch, 159kg in the Clean & Jerk, and a total of 292kg.
Shaun Ciantar set a new national record in the 96kg category with a remarkable 146kg Clean & Jerk, while Anton Micallef achieved two national records in the 81kg category with a snatch of 119kg and a total of 261kg.
Another notable performance came from Nathan Mifsud, a National Sports School student, who set new national records in the 49kg youth category with lifts of 51kg in the Snatch, 65kg in the Clean & Jerk, and a total of 116kg. With a score of 210 points, he also secured qualification for the upcoming European Union Championships in Slovenia later this year.
Additionally, Rylee Borg, who is preparing for the Commonwealth Championships, had a flawless performance, lifting a total of 233kg in the 81kg youth category.
The female athletes showcased exceptional performances, despite some of them simultaneously are doing the MATSEC examinations.
Junior athlete Mariah Bugeja demonstrated tremendous progress, improving her Clean & Jerk by three kilogrammes and finishing with a total of 134kg.
Kim Camilleri Lagana also impressed by achieving a snatch of 58kg.
Other noteworthy results included Yasmin Zammit Stevens, who lifted a total of 186kg in the 71kg category, Luana Vella with a 135kg total in the 59kg category, Aaliyah Gatt with a 122kg total in the 55kg category, Rheanna Briffa with a 121kg total, and Mariah Grima with a combined lift of 109kg.
Looking ahead, the next meet on the calendar is the ranking competition for cadets and newcomers, scheduled to be held on June 17 at the Cottonera Sport Complex.
This event will provide an opportunity for emerging talents to showcase their skills and compete in a supportive environment.
