Swimmer Agius added to Malta contingent

National team swimmer Neil Agius will be travelling with the Malta Olympic Committee contingent for the GSSE in Andorra which start on May 30.

Agius, who specialises in the long distance 1,500m race, was outside the Minimum Qualifying Standard (MQS) set by the MOC in Sunday's decisive time-trial at the National Pool.

However, MOC Director of Sport Pippo Psaila yesterday told The Times that Agius' best timings this season compare favourably with the entries of other GSSE swimmers over the 1,500m distance.

He said that after a long consultation, also involving the ASA Swimming Board, the MOC executive decided to include Agius, 18, in the squad.

It will be Agius' third GSSE after San Marino and Malta two years ago. Last month, he established new national records in 1,500m (16:52.61) and 400m (4:19.32) during an international meet in Berlin.

Earlier this week, the MOC added six other athletes to the GSSE squad, two judokas and four from track and field. However, there was still no place for budding swimmer Kyle Scerri. Like Agius, he established a series of national records this season in his favourite butterfly events only to fall just short of the required MQSs.

In Andorra, coach Steven Kormos will now have five swimmers under his charge. Agius joins female quartet Angela Galea, Roberta Callus, Davina Mangion and Francesca Paolella.