Malta’s aspirations of achieving a positive result at the upcoming Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in Luxembourg received a boost after it was revealed that the women’s basketball tournament has been reinstated in the competition programme.
Earlier this month, women’s basketball was scratched from the 2013 GSSE schedule as financially-stricken Cyprus did not have enough funds to field a full team in Luxembourg.
Cyprus’s withdrawal left only three teams in the tournament, Malta, Iceland and Luxembourg, thus forcing organisers to drop the event as competition rules state that a minimum of four nations must take part.
Julian Pace Bonello, the deputy president of the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC), confirmed that the Luxembourg GSSE organisers have given the go-ahead for the women’s basketball tournament to take place. This came after Cyprus managed to secure financial assistance from various entities to send a full squad to compete in the week-long sports festival, to be held from May 27-June 1.
“We are pleased that women’s basketball is back on the Games’ programme,” Pace Bonello told The Sunday Times.
“When the organisers announced their initial decision to omit women’s basketball and double trap shooting from the Games, we immediately began talks with several bodies to try and save the women’s basketball, at least, given that our team were ranked among the favourites for gold.
“The Malta Basketball Association also made contact with FIBA Europe and asked them to intervene. Fortunately, a solution has been found as Cyprus have received financial grants and will field a full contingent in the upcoming Games.”
In the last few weeks, Cyprus, a dominant force in the GSSE, requested financial assistance from both the European Olympic Committee and the Luxembourg Olympic Committee so that they can send a full contingent to Luxembourg.
After protracted talks, it has now been confirmed that they have been given the financial backing, believed to be worth over €250,000, to compete at the Games.
The reinstatement of women’s basketball in the Luxembourg Games boosts Malta’s medal hopes. The Maltese girls won a gold medal in Malta 2003 and Cyprus 2009.
This time around, the team will be under the leadership of Italian coach Angela Adamoli who replaced Santino Coppa last year.
Meanwhile, the MOC are in the process of finalising team plans for the Games.
Rebecca Camilleri (long jump), Giselle Camilleri (10,000m) and Kevin Moore (400m) are the only runners who have achieved the MQS in the track and field events so far.
Foreign-based swimmers Matthew Zammit and Andrew Chetcuti have also qualified for the Games after clocking the requested MQS in the 50 and 100m freestyle events.
In table tennis, Malta could have three female players at the Games as Chinese-born Lu Pengfei and Jessica Pace, who represented Malta in Liechtenstein two years ago, are set to be joined by Slovakian-born player Victoria Lukanova.
Daniel Bajada is so far the only confirmed male player in the table-tennis team as Australia-based Simon Gerada has yet to give a definite reply on whether he will play for Malta in Luxembourg.
Tennis players Rosanne Dimech and Elaine Genovese will be playing in the women’s singles and doubles while Matthew Asciak is the only confirmed name for the men’s competition as Nick Camilleri is sidelined with injury.
In judo, Malta is set to field a full-strength team. The female judokas are Marcon Bezzina, Joanna Camilleri and Vanessa Frazer, who incidentally is Malta’s Ambassador for Luxembourg. Jeremy Saywell, Murman Korcilava and Isaac Bezzina will lead the country’s challenge in the men’s competitions.
The MOC have set a May 9 deadline for athletes to achieve the Minimum Qualifying Standard and secure a place in Team Malta.