Malta win 23 gold medals at Invitational Games

The Malta Invitational Games drew to a close on Sunday evening with Malta garnering a total of 62 medals, 23 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze.

This medal tally saw them take second place behind Cyprus who once again showed their dominance.

The second edition of the Malta Invitational Games welcomed 200 athletes from 16 countries to compete in badminton, taekwondo, swimming, and waterpolo.

The competitions were open to Under-15 and Under-18 athletes, which is in line with the Maltese Olympic Committee’s strategy to nurture emerging talent.

The selection process, entrusted to the respective federations, ensured alignment between the MOC and the sporting entities, fostering a cohesive approach to youth sports development.

“The Malta Invitational Games were created to give our young athletes valuable experience competing against strong international opponents,” Charlene Attard, the MOC Director of Sport, said.

“This opportunity helps them develop their skills, and allows the Maltese Olympic Committee to evaluate performance, build on strengths, and address areas for improvement.”

Badminton

On the tournament’s final day, the mixed doubles semi-finals took place alongside all five championship finals, bringing an exciting close to the competition.

Cyprus delivered an exceptional performance, winning three out of the five events in the boys’ categories, singles and doubles.

Their athletes displayed remarkable talent, reinforcing their dominance in these disciplines.

In contrast, the Faroe Islands excelled in the girls’ events, triumphing in both girls’ singles and doubles, underscoring their strong presence in the female categories.

Malta also left its mark by earning bronze medals in two events.

The Boys’ Doubles team, comprised of Juan Casaru and Jeremy Gatt, secured a podium finish. Martina Clark competing in the girls’ Singles event brought home a bronze medal.

Taekwondo

Malta was represented by 34 athletes across various taekwondo categories.

The team brought home 16 gold, 14 silver, and 8 bronze medals, marking a five-fold increase in medals since the 2022 games.

This event also featured Malta’s first poomsae team – Jovo Mirkovic and Sinan Koruk – which placed second.

Athletes from 17 other nations participated, with the event presided over by International Referee Chair Kostas Kalaudis.

Swimming

A total of 36 events were held for the Under 15 and under 18 athletes, with Malta finishing second in the final Medal rankings. 

During the event, the Maltese 4x50m medley team composed of Michela Portelli, Julienne Woods, Nirvana Micallef and Kristy Delia established a new Short Course record with a time of 2:04.90.

Whilst Ella Fenech Attard and Luca Grixti established two new Age Group records in the Women’s 400m medley and the Men’s 50m butterfly events, respectively.

Nathan Cachia was also the Top male performer of these Games based on World Aquatics Points.

Waterpolo

On the final day of competition, Malta’s two teams faced off against Cagliari and Cyprus.

In the first game, Malta B played against Cagliari, with a final score of 5-9.

Although the Italians secured a four-goal victory, the game remained tightly contested, and the Maltese team proved to be a formidable opponent.

However, the Italians’ strong swimming and shooting ultimately turned the score in their favour.  In the second game, Malta A U-16 competed against Cyprus U-18, ending with a score of 7-13.

It was a close match up to the third session, after which the Cypriot team scored six unanswered goals in the fourth and final session.

Malta concluded the competition with a bronze medal for its A selection.

From a logistical standpoint, MOC Secretary General Kevin Azzopardi highlighted Malta’s strong position to host international events, citing its robust infrastructure as a key factor in delivering high-quality competitions.

To conclude the event, Maltese Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello expressed gratitude to the federations for their outstanding work and collaboration, adding: “We must also thank the many volunteers who played a vital role in this undertaking.”

The Malta Invitational Games were supported by SportMalta, APS Bank, National Lottery and General Soft Drinks.