Clayton Castaldi and Tenishia Thornton win top awards at Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali

Women’s football team, Tesse honoured after historic promotion

Pool player Clayton Castaldi and weightlifter Tenishia Thornton were the main winners at the 64th edition of the Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali which were held on Saturday night.

A total of 12 honours were announced, seven of which were a result of the votes by the jury.

Castaldi and Thornton were honoured for their excellent performances on the international scene during the past 12 months.

Castaldi stole the headlines last year when he became the first Maltese player to win the Ultimate Pol WEPF World 8-Ball Pool Championship after a thrilling 11-9 victory in the final against professional player Josh Kane.

On the other hand, Thornton continues to cement herself as Malta’s most talented weightlifter after winning a spate of medals in international competitions.

Thornton took gold and silver at the Commonwealth Championship and the Mediterranean Championships while landing two gold medals at the European Small Nations Championship.

Football completed a memorable double last night as the women’s national selection were crowned as the Team of the Year following their historic promotion to the UEFA Nations League.

The team’s head coach Manuela Tesse was also crowned as Coach of the Year.

Blackball player Jake Castaldi won the Youth Man Athlete of the Year while Kim Camilleri Lagana became the second weightlifter on the night to be honoured when she won the Youth Woman Athlete of the Year.

Christabel D’Amato, from Special Olympics, won the Official of the Year while gymnast Sophie St John won the People’s Choice Award.

During the night former Times of Malta sports journalists Henry Brincat and Leonard Zammit, were inducted in the Hall of Fame.

The annual awards ceremony was organised by the Malta Sports Journalists Association and supported by the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation.

WINNERS

Sportsman of the Year: Clayton Castaldi (Pool).

Sportswoman of the Year: Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting).

Youth Man Athlete of the Year: Jake Castaldi (Blackball).

Youth Woman Athlete of the Year: Kim Camilleri Laganà (Weightlifting).

Team of the Year: Women’s National Football Team

Coach of the Year: Manuela Tesse (Women’s National Football Team)

Official of the Year: Christabel D’Amato (Special Olympics Malta)

International Sports Event of the Year: Games for Small States of Europe: GSSE 2023.

People’s Choice Award: Sophie St John (Gymnastics)

Special Olympics Athlete Man Award: Luke Burke (Bowling)

Special Olympics Athlete Woman Award: Nevice Grech (Bocce)

Sport for Social Change Award: Fgura United.

Hall of Fame: Henry Brincat and Leonard Zammit