Eight qualify for European Championships

The first National Championships, organised by the Malta Drug-Free Powerlifting Association (MDFPA) were held recently at the Preluna Hotel in Sliema.

The president of the World Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation (WDFPF), Wim Backelant, and his wife travelled from Belgium to oversee the event and conduct drug testing.

Participants were competing not only for national titles, but also to qualify for the European Championships to be held in Ireland on June 21.

Daniel Debono, from the Feelgood Spa, won the 67.5kg category with his 390kg total while Daniel Grima, from Challenger in Cottonera, took the Best Bench Press medal with a 97.5kg press.

The 75kg category was hotly contested with Sean Galea fending off some fierce rivals to claim the title with a 465kg total. Nikolai Borg collected the Best Bench Press medal in the 75kg category with his 102.5kg press.

Both lifters train at Feelgood Spa.

After winning bronze at last year's British Championships in the 82.5kg category, Feelgood's Matthew Muscat Inglott claimed the 82.5kg title and Best Bench Press medal with his 542.5kg total.

Marvin Cilia, from Challenger, swept up in the 100kg class with a 490kg total as did Mario Mifsud in the 110kg class. Mifsud (Heavy Metal Gym, Birkirkara) hoisted a total of 690kgs and 170kg in the Bench Press.

In the 125kg category, another Heavy Metal lifter, Emmanuel Schembri prevailed with a 610kg total.

Aged 21, Schembri narrowly missed his attempts to equal the junior world records in both the Squat and the Deadlift.

Backelant was impressed with the standard of the Maltese lifters.

"I am surprised with the level I saw, considering the MDFPA are beginners," he said.

The athletes who have earned the right to be part of the Maltese team for the European Championships are - Daniel Debono, Kurt Bullock, Elton Caruana, Sean Galea, Matthew Muscat Inglott, Marvin Cilia, Mario Mifsud and Emmanuel Schembri.

The Preluna Hotel and Power Sports, of Luqa, were the main sponsors of championships.