Competition got underway yesterday in the XVI Mediterranean Challenge Cup, being run by the Slovenian Tenpin Bowling Federation in Ljubljana.

The nations taking part in these annual regional championships are: Croatia, Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, San Marino, Tunisia, Turkey and host country Slovenia.

Team Malta is made up of Sue Abela, Tiziana Carannante, Rankin Camilleri and Justin Caruana Scicluna.

Day One saw the six-game singles events, starting with the women.

Abela moved into the top spot among the 22-strong field after her initial two games of 205 and 238.

Italy’s Helga De Benedetto and Ebru Ozogluuntur, of Turkey, were following hot on Abela’s heels. With one game to play they put in respective games of 212 and 236 against a disappointing 180 from Abela.

That meant the gold medal went to De Benedetto (1,217), silver to Ozogluuntur (1,213) with Abela settling for bronze (1,203).

Carannante’s singles series was something of a mixed bag. She finished with a 1,078 total for six, and 12th place.

It was the men’s turn in the afternoon, and again it didn’t take Malta long to make their mark, as Caruana Scicluna got off to a great start with games of 211 and 257 to hold third place.

The youngster then shot a solid 246 in game three to go first, but then stumbled with a disappointing brace of low games, 173 and 171 in the fourth and fifth knocking him back to fourth place and out of the medals with just one game to go.

But, Caruana Scicluna pulled off an incredible comeback, banging in a 279 game, shooting straight back up to the top spot for gold with 1,337, much to the chagrin of local bowler Anze Grabrijan who took silver with 1,330, ahead of Francesco Bellomonte (Italy) on 1,304.

Camilleri placed 13th (1,155).

Competition continues with the doubles events today. Team Malta is being aided by national coach Rick Vogeleseng.