Shooter William Chetcuti and Steve Camilleri, the waterpolo ace, headlined the 2016 MOC Sports Awards gala night at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, last night.

Both protagonists received the prestigious Platinum Award in a ceremony during which the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) honoured various athletes and teams from different sport in recognition of their sporting exploits.

Renowned Olympian, Roberto Di Donna, the Italian target shooter who won the 10m air-pistol gold medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996, was the guest of honour at the ceremony hall.

The organising committee’s decision to award the top accolade to Chetcuti and Camilleri was not a surprise as both enjoyed a highly successful year.

Chetcuti confirmed himself as one of the leading Double Trap competitors when he won the World Cup shoot in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June.

The 31-year-old from Manikata had a poor showing at the Rio Olympics, where he only managed 19th place overall, but wrapped up his international season in style after coming third at the high-level World Cup finals in Rome.

Camilleri enjoyed a stellar 2016 as he played a key role in a historic first showing for the waterpolo national team in the European Championship finals.

The prolific goal-getter netted 21 times in seven matches during the finals in Belgrade to top the scorers’ list in the competition.

In summer, Camilleri helped Neptunes win the National League after coming from a long season with top Italian league side Ortigia.

Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team were among the gold award receivers.

Angela Adamoli’s girls were honoured after they won the gold medal in the European Championships for Small States which were held in Moldova last June.

This was the country’s third success in the continental competition at that level.

Snooker duo Brian Cini and Alex Borg were also Gold Award winners following their triumph at the European Team Championships in Lithuania.

The others in the gold section yesterday were bowling veteran Sue Abela, gold and silver medallist at the Mediterranean Challenge Cup, bodybuilder Luke Debono, winner at the Ben Weider Legacy Cup and the Arnold Classic Europe, horse racing’s Anthony Demanuele, Julian Farrugia, Rodney Gatt and Charles Camilleri who joined forces to claim the Mediterranean Union Championship, and Norbert Attard who reached the European Darts Cup semi-finals.

Special merit

This year’s awards featured a new section – Special Merit – for those competitors who did not feature in Open championships but still left their mark on the international scene.

Young tennis player Helene Pellicano, winner of the Junior European Championship, Victoria Schulteis, a gold medallist at the World Sailing Championships, and double trap shooter Nathan Lee Xuereb, gold medallist at the European Championships for Juniors, were all beneficiaries of the Special Merit award.

Meanwhile, three former sportsmen/women – snooker great Paul Mifsud and Theresa Brousson, of squash, and judoka Jacqueline Xuereb – were last night inducted into the MOC Hall of Fame.

Other recognitions also went to the local councils of Mellieha, Għajnsielem and Qormi for their contribution to the sport.

MOC sports awards list

Platinum: S. Camilleri (waterpolo), W. Chetcuti (shooting).

Gold: Women’s basketball team, horse racing team, A. Borg/B. Cini (snooker); L. Debono (bodybuilding), S. Abela (bowling), N. Attard (darts).

Silver: J.J. Micallef (golf), S. Farrugia (bowls), men’s rugby sevens, N. Attard (trap), D. Conti/J. Pisani (table football), T. Carannante, S. Abela, N. Sullivan (bowling).

Bronze: C. Wingfield, L.M. Bezzina (athletics), H. Laamouz (boxing), M.C. Aquilina, women’s team (cycling), men’s golf national team, bowls raffa team, women’s rugby sevens, G. Chetcuti (shooting), D. Conti, S. Bartolo (table football), D. Bonello Spiteri, K. Galea, H. Pace (triathlon), waterpolo team, weightlifting team.

Special Merit: V. Schulteis (sailing), N.L. Xuereb (shooting), H. Pellicano (tennis).

Special Awards: R. Chouhal (athletics), M. Abela, S. Cassar (badminton), S. Grillo (gymnastics), Malta U-23 pool team, K. Sultana (squash), J. Balzan (table football), M. Spiteri, youths national team (bowling).

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