World ranked players in Malta team

Squash is one of the new disciplines in the Games of the Small States of Europe.

In fact, this sport was first introduced in Liechtenstein in 1999 with the Maltese athletes immediately notching a gold medal at the first time of asking in the women's team event.

Although the sport featured just once in all past editions of the GSSE, the participating countries have been organising a tournament for small nations since 1989.

Malta is a household name in these championships as the women's team has won the top prize on no fewer than eight occasions. Another two gold, four silver and two bronze medals were won by the men's team in the previous editions.

Squash is becoming increasingly popular in most of the participating countries with the exception of Andorra and San Marino. In fact, these two countries will not be taking part in GSSE squash.

New event

A novelty in the Malta Games will be an event for individuals.

Each country has the right to nominate its two top seeds to participate in this competition. Malta will be eyeing gold with Michael Fiteni, who plays on the professional circuit in Holland, and Joseph Desira, who flew over from Australia, to compete at these Games.

These two players enjoy a world ranking and should start among the favourites to clinch the ultimate prize.

Theresa Camilleri and Dianne Desira will compete in the women's singles.

The individual event will actually precede the opening ceremony as the first games will be played on Monday morning.

Based on a knock-out system, the finals will be held on Tuesday and if the odds are anything to go by, the Maltese national anthem should be heard echoing around the Marsa Sports Complex.

On the other hand, the team competitions will be held on a round robin system with the final matches played on Saturday.

The men's team comprises five players and two reserves whereas the women's team includes three players and two reserves.

The national teams have been preparing under the watchful eye of coach Paul Lake.

A very demanding trainer, Lake has scheduled training sessions from Monday to Saturday since coming to Malta in February. Lake used to coach the German national team and is currently the head coach at England's West Hants Club.

Last October, the national teams, missing the services of Fiteni and the Desira pair, competed in Monaco against the same teams who will be here next week.

The women's team stormed to gold without losing a single match whereas their male counterparts narrowly missed out on a bronze medal.

However, with a full-strength squad, the male formation should be in a good position to challenge the likes of Luxembourg, Iceland and Monaco for the gold medal.

Nine sparring partners, from England and Germany, were brought over to help in the build-up. The world-ranked players helped in the training programme too to ensure that their team-mates reach their peak at the right time.

This programme was further complemented with a week-long tour in Germany during which the national teams played six games in five days.

GSSE Squash Programme

Singles tournament
Monday, June 2 - first round and quarter-finals.
Tuesday, June 3 - semi-finals and finals.
Men's final - 4.30 p.m.
Women's final - 5.30 p.m.

Teams' tournament
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday - June 4-7.

Malta Squash Selections

Men's team: Ivan Balzan, Bernard Bugeja, Jonathan Crockford, Joseph Desira, Michael Fiteni, Mark Lupi, Steven Schranz.

Women's team: Theresa Camilleri, Dianne Desira, Annabelle Diamantino, Pat Marsh, Johanna Rizzo.