Semi-finalists announced

The Sports Journalists Association and the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport announced the names of those making the semi-finals of this year's SportMalta Awards - Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali.

The contest has been held regularly for the past 49 years now following the initiative of veteran sportswriter Benny Pace way back in 1960.

The list will be trimmed to five names in each category.

This will be made public on January 4.

Sports Journalists Association members will then vote for their preferred candidates and the winners will be announced during a presentations night at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on January 16.

The nominees

Sportsman of the Year: N. Attard (shooting); M. Bonello (athletics); A. Borg (snooker); S. Camilleri (waterpolo); W. Chetcuti (shooting); A. Ciantar (powerboats); J. D'Alfonso (athletics); C. Degiorgio (horse racing); N. Portelli (athletics); D. Vella (shooting); W. Vella (air-rifle).

Sportswoman of the Year: S. Abela (bowling); M. Bezzina (judo); R. Brincat Thoresen (basketball); T. Brousson (squash); G. Camilleri (athletics); J. Camilleri (judo); K. Cassar (tennis); M. Podesta (sailing); D. Spiteri (triathlon); C. Walsh (athletics).

Team of the Year: Bowling (mixed); women's basketball team; men's U-18 basketball team; Seagull Chaudron (powerboats); netball U-17; squash national teams (men and women); athletics 4x100m (men); waterpolo national team; skeet team; triathlon national team (men); handball national team (men); rugby sevens women's team; gymnastics national team (women); tennis doubles; trap team.

Under-17 category: D. Bajada (table tennis); K. Caruana (gymnastics); A. Chetcuti (swimming); S. Deguara (basketball); C. Farrugia (shooting); J. Pace (table tennis); T. Pace (swimming); M. Sammut (swimming); C. Sultana (squash); T. Zammit Tabona (sailing).

Official of the Year: G. Barbara (basketball referee); S. Busuttil (rugby referee); F. Camilleri (MBA official); T. Camilleri (snooker referee); J. Caruana Curran (MBSA president); T. Cini (MMSF chairman); L. Farrugia Sacco (MOC president); E. Galea (MJF president); J. Mifsud (MFA president).