Stefan Salomone lands triple crown

Badminton Malta recently organised its 37th Malta Championships, once again sponsored by EuroSport. Since 1998, the nationals were renamed the Paddy Stubbs Championships in memory of this well-known philanthropist and sports benefactor.

Played at St Martin's College and the Cottonera Sports Complex, the championships covered men and women singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles.

A preliminary competition marked the start of the men's singles. This was won by Brian Zammit while defending champion Stefan Salomone and Kenneth Vella contested the singles final.

Vella started well, winning the first set 21-13. However, he seemed to gradually run out of steam when faced with Salomone's reaction with the latter making up for his initial setback by taking a more balanced second set 21-17.

Salomone maintained his momentum in the decisive third set which he won 21-7 to secure his fourth national title.

Maria Borg and Catherine Dimech made it to the women's singles final which also turned out to be an exciting three-set affair.

Borg took the first set 21-11 but a determined Dimech fought back and put the match on an even keel by claiming the second 21-13.

In the crucial third set, it was Borg who held her nerve to clinch her first women's national singles title after prevailing 21-12.

In the other categories, the men's doubles title was retained by Robert and Stefan Salomone. They beat Kenneth Vella and David Cole 21-18, 21-17.

The women's doubles final saw Dimech and Joanne Cassar successfully defend their title after seeing off Maria Borg and Fiorella Farrugia in straight sets, 21-13, 21-18.

The mixed doubles title went to Stefan Salomone and Farrugia at the end of yet another exciting three-set thriller. The winning duo lost the first set 19-21 but then recovered well to defeat Robert Salomone and Maria Borg 21-17, 21-16.

The mixed doubles success was Stefan Salomone's third title in this year's National Championships, thereby assigning him the platonic triple crown.

In a statement, Badminton Malta expressed its satisfaction at the high standard of play shown by the numerous participants throughout the championships.

The association also thanked EuroSport, St Martin's College and the Cottonera Sports Complex for their valid contribution in staging the Nationals.