The Mediterranean Cup, now in its ninth edition, was held last weekend at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

Eleven countries competed in this team event, organised by the Malta Weightlifting Association (MWA).

Tunisia topped the chart with 1,891 points followed by France on 1,754 and Italy on 1,607.

The Maltese team finished a creditable fourth with 1,482 points ahead of Turkey, Spain, Israel, Slovenia, Greece, Bosnia & Herzegovina and San Marino.

Four male and two female lifters represented Malta in the Med. Cup.

Kyle Micallef produced the best performance among Malta’s male members, amassing 306 points.

Ryan Agius gained 292 points, Rodmar Pulis 274 and Jovan Reljic 266.

On the female side, Pamela Psaila finished with 173 points, just two ahead of Krista Camilleri.

Besides the team, other Maltese lifters participated in this international event to gain more experience.

These were Hayley Mizzi, Sarah Grixti, Dorianne Attard, Natalie Borg, Noel Coleiro, Owen Bugeja, Matthew Camilleri and Daryl Psaila, all of whom recorded very encouraging results.

Last weekend’s competition also produced a host of Mediterranean records as 11 new marks were set in the women’s category and seven in the men’s.

Bugeja was named best youth lifter of this year’s Med. Cup while the award for best male performer overall went to Tunisian Karem Ben Hnia, who is also the world champion in the 77kg category. Yosra Dhieb, also from Tunisia, took the best female lifter’s accolade.

In a statement, the MWA said the Med. Cup served as good preparation for the Maltese squad ahead of their participation in the Small Nations tournament, to be held in Monaco next month.