Chetcuti and Asciak in line to retain honours

Double Trap shooter William Chetcuti and tennis player Matthew Asciak are in the running to retain their titles in the 2006 Sportivi Nazzjonali contest. Yesterday, they were shortlisted among the finalists for the presentations night at the Westin Dragonara on January 27.

Earlier this month, the Ghaqda Kittieba Sports had announced the nominees in all five categories. That list has now been trimmed to five finalists in each section.

Chetcuti was Sportsman of the Year for the past four years. His major challengers for 2006 could be Alex Borg, the snooker champion, and table football's Massimo Cremona. Borg has won the European Championships in 2006 while Cremona is ranked no.1 in the world list.

Duncan Bezzina (pool) and Mark Zammit (triathlon) are also in contention in this category.

Trap shooter Rebecca Madyson is the outright favourite for the Sportswoman of the Year award, won by swimmer Angela Galea last year.

The Australia-based shooter achieved an historic result for Malta in 2006 after winning a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games.

The other finalists in this category are bowlers Sue Abela and Lorraine Casha, gold medal winners in the Mediterranean Championships, judoka Marcon Bezzina, third in the Judo Commonwealth Championship and Danica Spiteri, of triathlon.

Spiteri won gold in the European Small States Championships in 2006.

Asciak was the clear winner in the 2005 Best U-17 athlete category and after a positive year in the ITF junior circuit, he is again favourite to retain the honour.

Shooter Justin Attard, sprinter Diane Borg and middle distance runners Francesca Xuereb and Martina Xuereb are the other candidates eyeing the Best U-17 title.

The Team of the Year award will be contested by sailing crew Artie, powerboats team Chaudron and the national teams of pool, tenpin bowling and triathlon. The snooker national team failed to make the cut.

For the second successive year, basketball referee Bernard Vassallo is again among the finalists for Official of the Year. He faces competition from basketball association president Antonio Mizzi, John Attard (badminton), Terry Camilleri (snooker) and Jesmond Giordemaina (wrestling).

Yesterday, the sportswriters association also recognised the sporting feats of disabled athletes Maria Spiteri and Bjorn Tabone. They were presented with a memento and a certificate.

At the end of the activity, association president Charles Camenzuli presented another memento to veteran journalist Tony Costantino.

The former sports editor of L-Orizzont has just retired after more than 40 years of service.

The finalists

Sportsman of the Year: W. Chetcuti (shooting), D. Bezzina (pool), A. Borg (snooker), M. Cremona (table football), M. Zammit (triathlon).

Sportswoman of the Year: S. Abela, L. Casha (both bowling), M. Bezzina (judo), R. Madyson (shooting), D. Spiteri (triathlon).

Official of the Year: J. Attard (badminton), T. Camilleri (snooker), J. Giordemaina (wrestling), A. Mizzi, B. Vassallo (both basketball).

Team of the Year: Artie crew (sailing), pool national team, triathlon national team, Team Chaudron, bowling national team.

Best U-17 athlete: M. Asciak (tennis), J. Attard (shooting), D. Borg, F. Xuereb, M. Xuereb (all athletics).