Four of Malta`s top bowlers recently travelled to Barcelona, Spain, to take part in the fifth Mediterranean Cup Challenge where they turned in a fine performance to enhance the name of their sport and their country.
Malta`s most commendable achievement in this year`s edition was that of Sue Abela (right), who won gold in the ladies` singles. In the mixed team competition, Malta gained a silver medal.
The tournament was played between seven Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Malta, Spain and Turkey), with each nation competing with two female and two male competitors.
Abela, Melissa Anastasi, Dennis Mercieca and Leli Baldacchino made up the Maltese contingent, and were accompanied by the current national team coach, Christer Backe of Sweden.
The `Medicup` comprises a male and female singles` event, male and female doubles and also a mixed four-player team competition. All categories are played over six games, with total pinfall deciding the final positions.
Abela was way ahead of the opposition from the very first game, rolling a huge 254, following up with a 235 and a 228 to complete an outstanding 717 series.
She maintained her form in the second set of three, consistently playing over 200 in each game to consolidate her position and take the championship title, adding another gold medal to her glittering array of honours. The silver medal went to Alexandra Combes of France, who finished 154 pins behind Abela, and 36 pins ahead of compatriot Karene Jost who took bronze.
Anastasi was very unlucky to miss out on a medal, finishing in fourth place, a mere 15 pins behind Jost.
There were exceptionally high scores in the men`s singles competition, which was won by Bertran Pujol (France). Spain`s Marcial Ovide finished second for the silver medal and Yahav Rabin of Israel was third.
Malta`s Mercieca played consistently well for a great game average of 213.7 over the six games which included an excellent 254, but was only able to make eighth place, such was the high level of competition. Baldacchino finished in 12th place with a 190.7 average.
The Maltese fared better in the doubles` event, particularly Baldacchino who rolled individual games of 247, 214, 211 and 221 for a much better 210 average. Mercieca also played well (197 average) but unfortunately their joint effort was not enough to give them a medal, placing fourth, just 47 pins behind third after six games.
The Greek partnership of Dimitris Karetsos and Leon-idas Maragos took the gold medal, with Frenchmen Anthony Fabre and Pujol claiming the silver, and Israel`s Or Aviram and Rabin winning bronze.
The ladies` doubles team faltered in their competition, completing the six games in sixth place. France were the winners thanks to Jost and Combes. Sandra Torrents and Roser Romero won silver for Spain with Greek duo Esmeralda Kaltsou and Christina Fotinia taking home the bronze.
Mixed team success
Malta were back among the medals in the mixed team event, this time coming away with a silver. Baldacchino retained his earlier form, rolling games of 247 and 242 for a personal average of 206.
Mercieca also did well, playing a 230 and a 241 in the first two games (202 average). Abela and Anastasi did their part too, with respective averages of 191 and 179. Malta took second place, only 60 pins adrift of Greece, and 132 ahead of Israel in third place.
Even preceding her feat in this year`s championships, Abela has an enviable record of success throughout the five-year history of the Medicup.
She took gold in 2000 for the singles` event as well as in the doubles, and in 2001 she won silver in the singles, going on to pick up a bronze in the doubles. Apart from that, Abela has taken the gold medal for the `All Events` competition four times out of five... an amazing achievement.
Abela`s success is no lucky coincidence, but rather the fruit of her total dedication to her sport allied to her rigorous training programme encompassing both the physical and mental side of the game.
Abela forms part of the MOC`s `Elite Athlete` scheme, and with their backing, she has been able to attend various training camps and clinics in the USA over the past year.
The Malta Tenpin Bowling Association is grateful to the Malta Olympic Committee, and also the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, Jesmond Mugliett, for their concerted efforts to promote the sport of bowling in Malta, and give our athletes the opportunity to improve and compete seriously on an international level.