Weight and power training en-thusiasts were treated to a series of super lifts last weekend as the Malta Weightlifting Association hosted the National Champion-ships at the Cottonera Sports Complex.
The competition featured the participation of an encouraging number of lifters and officials whose enthusiasm and dedication are proof of the rising popularity of this sport in Malta.
The championships were split in four age categories: cadets, youths, juniors and seniors.
As the focus in the U-13 bracket is on perfection rather than excellence, the barbells weren’t loaded with extra weights but those present could still appreciate the technique adopted by the young performers.
The competition for youths was contested by a good number of lifters, including some new faces.
Emersin Bugeja won the U-15 77kg category and was also crowned the overall youth champion with a total of 128kg and 164 points.
Thomas Farrugia was the top lifter in the U-17 competition with 201 points. Also in this category, twin brothers Hayden and Joran Farrugia broke a series of records for a combined total of 14.
In the ladies’ competition, Nicole Gatt stood out again, securing the title in the youth, junior and senior categories, shattering no fewer than 18 national records with a total of 108kg, achieving 155.007 points.
The junior/senior lifts are considered as the main events on the card.
In the senior female category, the champion was Jessica Ghigo. She pipped Gatt by a fraction, recording 155.348.
The men’s category featured a tight contest between Rodmar Pulis and Matthew Muscat Inglott who competed for the 85kg and overall title.
In the head-to-head challenge, Pulis clinched the honours with a total of 225kg.
He had to wait until the last lift of the competition to assure himself of victory as the 15kg increase proved too much for Muscat Inglott who finished the competition with a total of 211kg.
The championships were super-vised by association president Jesmond Caruana and his team of technical officials.
Attention now turns to the participation of Pulis and Gatt in the London Championships.