For the umpteenth time, the Malta Olympic Committee (MOC) has chosen William Chetcuti to act as its flag-bearer at a prestigious international event.
MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco yesterday announced that the Double Trap shooter will carry the Maltese flag during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on March 15 in Melbourne, Australia.
Four years ago in Manchester, Chetcuti also had the privilege of leading the Maltese contingent for the Commonwealth Games.
The 20-year-old is becoming accustomed to this role as last year, he was Malta's flag-bearer in both the GSSE in Andorra and the Med. Games in Almeria, Spain.
"Chetcuti is without doubt the leading sportsman in the Malta contingent," the MOC president told journalists during a news conference at the committee's offices in Tal-Qroqq.
"His results in international competition speak volumes for his ability. I think no other athlete deserves to lead out our squad in Melbourne more than William.
"This week, I had the chance to watch him train and I was so pleased to see that he is in great form," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco added.
"This certainly bodes well for the upcoming Games where we hope that William and the other athletes can match or even improve the result obtained in Manchester where Chetcuti won the bronze medal in Double Trap."
The MOC head remarked that the atmosphere among the Malta contingent is very positive. Although it is a known fact that the level of competition will be very high, Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco expressed his confidence in the selected Maltese athletes who have prepared very well for the Games. "I am sure our athletes will do well in Melbourne," he said.
MOC Director of Sport Pippo Psaila announced that there has been one change to the list of athletes released last month. Lucienne Bezzina has been drafted in the women's basketball team, replacing Greta Zarb.
Psaila went on to declare that the MOC had no second thoughts about its decision to overlook athletes from the track and field events, even though last weekend Charlene Attard broke the women's 60m national indoor record in an EAA Junior Permit Meeting in Moscow.
Last month, Psaila revealed that the Malta Amateur Athletics Association (MAAA) had not put forward any nominations for inclusion in the Commonwealth Games team as none of the earmarked athletes were considered to have hit peak form at the time.
"It's also important to understand that there's a huge difference between the 60 metres indoor race and the 200m," Psaila observed.
Psaila reiterated his optimism that Maltese athletes will return from Melbourne with a better result than they achieved in Manchester.
"This is a critical time for our athletes," he said. "With the Games only a few weeks away, they are bound to be tormented by inner doubts as to whether they can do well in Melbourne.
"I can assure them that they have prepared well for these Games and they should be fine."
Federations' officials upbeat
During yesterday's news conference, a number of athletes and officials aired their views on Malta's prospects for the Games.
Swimming national coach Steve Kormos said that in Melbourne, one has to be realistic about Angela Galea's ambitions.
"Angela has been training very hard and is in good shape," Kormos said. "Obviously, we cannot expect her to challenge for a medal but I'm optimistic that she can set a new national record in the butterfly races."
Malta Table Tennis Association official Alex Anastasi is keeping his fingers crossed that Simon Gerada gets a favourable draw in the singles so that he can challenge for a medal.
"Simon Gerada is at the peak of his career," Anastasi said. "He is really geared up for the event and I'm sure that with a good draw, he can aspire to win a medal."
Saviour Portelli, the Malta Shooting Federation (MSF) president, has high hopes for an excellent result in Melbourne.
"That bronze medal in Manchester is one of the highlights in the history of the MSF," Portelli said. "These Games have always regaled us with great emotions. Twelve years ago in Canada, Frans Pace reached the final and was a whisker away from a medal.
"We are going to Australia with a strong team and in William we definitely have one of the top shooters in the world. I have no doubt that we can match if not improve on the result in Manchester four years ago."
Malta's schedule in Melbourne...
Basketball: Women's competition - March 17 vs New Zealand; March 19 vs Nigeria; March 20 vs Malaysia.
Cycling: March 21 - Women's time trial (S. Magri), Men's time-trial (D. Treacy, J. Schiavone, N. Formosa and E. Bonello); March 26 - Women's road race (S. Magri), Men's road race (D. Treacy, J. Schiavone, N. Formosa and E. Bonello).
Lawn Bowls: March 16-20 - Men's pairs heats (L. Callus and F. Vella); March 18-23 - Men's singles heats (S. Parnis); March 21-22 - Men's pairs quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. March 16-20 - Men's triples competition (J. Attard, V. Brincat, A. Vella).
Shooting: March 17 - Men's Trap pairs final (F. Pace, S. Cardona); March 19 - Men's Double Trap pairs final (W. Chetcuti, R. Micallef); March 21 - Women's Trap final (R. Madyson), Men's Trap (F. Pace, S. Cardona); March 22 - Men's Trap final; March 23 - Men's Double Trap (W. Chetcuti, R. Micallef).
Squash: (J. Desira) March 16-20 - Men's singles competition.
Swimming: (A. Galea) March 16 - Women's 50m butterfly heats and semi-finals (final - March 17). March 18 - Women's 100m butterfly heats and semi-finals (final - March 19). March 21 - Women's 200m butterfly heats and final.
Table Tennis: March 21-26 - Men's singles (S. Gerada, W. Gerada); March 22-25 - Men's doubles (S. Gerada, W. Gerada).
Weightlifting: (Lindsay Borg) March 21 - Women's 75kgs.