A team of four top local tenpin bowlers have travelled to Crete to participate in the 2015 Mediterranean Championships, also known as The Mediterranean Challenge Cup (MCC).

Sue Abela and Tiziana Carannante are representing Malta in the ladies’ division with Mauro Anastasi and Mark Spiteri competing in the very tough men’s field.

The four have been selected on their own merits after earning the right to represent Malta in a national qualifying tournament, held by the MTBA earlier this year.

The 18th edition of the MCC, organised by the HBF (Hellenic Bowling Association), is being staged at the Mega Palace bowling centre in Chania.

There will be four separate qualifying events, namely singles, doubles, mixed doubles and the four-man team competition.

Awards will be given for all events but the highlight of the championships will be the masters and the grand finals to decide the championship-winning bowlers and nations.

After 17 editions of this regional tournament, Malta still occupies top spot in the medals chart with 34 gold medals, ahead of much larger nations such as Greece, Italy, France, Israel and Spain.

Team Malta’s daunting task at this year’s championships will be to stave off what will be a fierce assault by Greece. The hosts have been closing in on the top position in recent years and are now only one gold medal behind Malta.

Competition gets underway today and concludes on Saturday when the Masters event is held.

Team Malta are led by MTBA president, Paul Baldacchino, as well as national coach Rick Vogelesang.

Medals table