Lifters maintain improvement in MWA competition

The Malta Weightlifting Association (MWA) has just held its fourth competition for the year at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

This competition served as a useful trial for future international events and also featured the debut of two young promising members.

Melvin Cutajar, 15, lifted a total of 85kg and 18-year-old Rudy Grech hoisted 97kg. Cleaven Cutajar maintained his improvement of late as he lifted a total of 120kg.

With a score of 225 points, Stephen Borg bettered his position in the overall rankings as he continues his recovery from injuries.

Veteran lifter Noel Coleiro underlined his dominance as he took first place with an impressive 274 points.

Emanuel Schembri produced a lift of 158kg in clean and jerk. Had he raised that weight overhead, Schembri would have obtained the total needed to qualify for this year's Commonwealth Games. Nonetheless, Schembri placed second with 264 points.

Clint Grech finished third on 259 points. He came very close to recording a personal best in the clean and jerk with 117kg but his bid was foiled when the bar slid a bit forward. Grech couldn't control the bar for the lift to be considered successful.

The MWA competition at the Cottonera Sports Complex was run by Jesmond Caruana with the help of Mark Pirotta, Kristian Mintoff, Emanuel Camilleri, Rita Caruana and Madline Coleiro.

Training camp

Next month, a group of Maltese weightlifters will undergo a training camp in Rome as part of their preparations for three international competitions - the Email Tournament, organised by the Oceania Weightlifting Association, and the European Union Tournament and the Games of the Small States of Europe which will be hosted by Cyprus.