Xuereb sisters and shooter Farrugia spearhead Malta squad

The Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) have named a contingent of 12 athletes for the Commonwealth Youth Games, to be held in Pune, India between October 12 and 18.

Track and field rising stars Francesca and Martina Xuereb and skeet ace Clive Farrugia are the top names in the MOC's selection for the sports festival which will serve as a showcase for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, to be staged in the Indian capital of New Delhi.

The third Commonwealth Youth Games will see the participation of over 1,300 athletes and 350 officials from 71 countries in nine different disciplines, namely athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.

Malta will be represented in athletics and shooting.

Joining the Xuereb siblings in the track and field events are Michael Fraser (400m), Michael Sullivan (110m hurdles), Marija Sciberras (100m hurdles), Andrew Cassar Torregiani (long jump), Andy Grech (long jump) and Dorianne Micallef (200m).

In shooting, Farrugia, fresh from his success at the European Commonwealth Championships in Gibraltar where he won gold in the individual and pairs skeet competitions, will lead the Maltese team in India along with trap shooter Ryan Bugeja and Derek Bonanno who will compete in double trap. Charlot Chircop will take part in the 10m air rifle competition.

MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco told a news conference yesterday that participation in these Games was vital to prepare youths for the higher demands of international competition.

"We at the MOC firmly believe that participation in these sporting events is important as it gives our upcoming athletes the opportunity to maximise their talent," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

"In past years, we took part in other international events for youths. Many still remember Francesca Xuereb's third-place finish in the 400m at the Youth Olympic Festival in Belgrade in 2007 and more recently, Clive Farrugia's gold medals in Gibraltar. These results show that we have the talent to succeed in international competitions.

"However, we must keep in mind that in Pune, our athletes will be competing against their counterparts from some of the world's leading sporting nations. Our medal chances are remote but our target is to obtain positive results and I firmly believe in our athletes' abilities to leave a positive impression."

Envic Galea, the MOC director of youth and chef-de-mission in Pune, explained the MOC's selection policy for the Commonwealth Youth Games. He said that all athletes travelling to India had reached the minimum qualifying standards set by the MOC.

"I am very pleased with the athletes who will represent Malta in Pune," Galea said.

"They have all been chosen on the strength of the high standards they reached over the past few months. Malta is taking part for the first time in shooting competitions at these youth games and, given the excellent international track record of the Malta Shooting Sport Federation, we are confident of another good showing from our shooters.

"In so far as track and field events are concerned, I think there is little to say about Francesca and Martina Xuereb. Their performances at youth level have always been excellent and hopefully, they will put on another strong display in Pune.

"The other members of the athletics team also have great potential and hopefully, these Games will aid their preparations for next year's Games of the Small States of Europe in Cyprus."