Start of H2Only Individual League

This season's Badminton Malta calendar has been augmented with the recent start of the H2Only Individual League. Matches are played regularly on Wednesday evenings at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

The participants have been graded according to their standard of play into ten divisions: seven for singles (two of which are exclusively for women) and three for doubles. Each division is played on a league format.

In the men's singles, Stefan Salomone (Birkirkara) started well by winning his opening First Division fixture against team-mate Aldo Polidano, 21-14 21-16.

Title contender Kenneth Vella (Pawla Wolves Schtag) drew his match against Bulgarian Boris Lalov (Msida Arrows). After Vella won the first set 21-14, Lalov reacted strongly to take the second 21-15.

There seems to be a marked degree of equilibrium in the Third Division where four players are on equal points at the top of the table.

Martin Camilleri (Pawla Wolves Three-You-Design), Mark Briffa (Shuttles Fort Blocks), Ivan Salomone and Alfred Polidano (both Birkirkara) are all on the three-point mark, having each won one and drawn the other of their initial two matches.

David Chua (Pawla Wolves Three-You-Design) is unbeaten in the Fourth Division while Stephen Serracino Inglott (Msida Arrows) leads the Fifth Division with maximum points after two matches.

In the women's singles, Dutch player Didi Rasamayii (Pawla Wolves Schtag) is unbeaten at the top of the First Division, with four points from her initial two fixtures. Joanne Vella (Shuttles Fort Blocks) and Rachel Attard share second place with two points apiece.

Grace Saliba and Juliet Gatt (both Shuttles Fort Blocks) lead the Second Division table with four points. Russian Olga Fedotkina and Dutch Els Goes (both Msida Arrows) follow them closely with two points each.