Three judokas provided a fitting finale to Team Malta’s first full day of competition at the 2011 LieGames yesterday as Jeremy Saywell and Brent Law won silver and Joanne Camilleri bronze to open the country’s account in the medals table.
However, there was no good news for the other judoka in the team, Marcon Bezzina, who suffered a knock to her elbow in her very first -63kg bout. She will probably skip today’s competitions to nurse her injury.
Saywell reached the final of the 66kg class after beating Andorra’s Daniel Garcia Gonzalez in the semi-finals. However, his quest for gold fell just short after going down to Cypriot judoka Andreas Krassas.
Cedric Bessi, of Monaco, and Massimiliano Urbinati, of San Marino, took the bronze medal.
In the 60kg category, Law did well to qualify for the gold medal final but was beaten to the highest step on the podium by Monaco’s Yann Sicardi.
Camilleri placed third in the 57kg category. The gold medal in the event was won by Manon Durbach, of Luxembourg, while Sofia Annag, of Monaco, took the silver medal.
Malta Judo Federation official Alex Bezzina hailed the medal winners but also spared a thought for the luckless Bezzina.
“I only have words of praise for our judokas,” Bezzina said.
“The medal winners deserved their prize and Bezzina, despite hurting her arm, kept battling hard. She’s a real fighter and I’m sure that had she remained fully fit she would have been a main contender for the gold medal.
“Unfortunately for her, Marcon damaged elbow ligaments and there’s a big percentage that she will not compete in the teams’ competition.”
Bezzina also lamented some decisions from the umpires.
“Brent and Jeremy were outstanding. They gave their hearts out and I feel that they were unlucky with some refereeing decisions which could have easily swung the tide in our favour. Had that been the case we would be here talking of two golds and not two silvers but we have to move on.
“In my opinion, Joanna has the potential to reach the final. She knows she could have done better here but she can still be pleased with her performance.”
Cutajar’s review
In his review late in the day, MOC chef-de-mission Mark Cutajar said he was happy things had started to move for Malta in the medals table.
“Brent and Jeremy did very well and could have got an even better result with a little bit more luck,” he said.
“Swimmer Andrew Chetcuti also did well but we’re so sorry for Marcon Bezzina whose chances here are hampered by that injury.
“Looking at other sport, I’m pleased with the efforts of the squash teams and I feel that words of praise should also go to table tennis youngsters Daniel Bajada and Jessica Pace who betrayed signs of nervousness when playing against stronger opponents.
“The biggest upsets of the day, perhaps, came in tennis and target shooting.
“Matthew Asciak and Kim Cassar looked stronger than the Monaco pair but somehow they lost the match and it was also sad to see William Vella finishing fourth in such agonising style.
“Now, we have to look ahead as competition has just started.”
Track and Field events get underway this afternoon at the Rheinweise Stadium in Schaan.
The main focus will be on the 100 metre races where Team Malta will be represented by Diane Borg, Charlene Attard, Karl Farrugia and Rashid Chouhal.
In the women’s sprint, favourite Eleni Artymata, of Cyprus, will not be in action as she has been ruled out by injury thus increasing the chances of Borg and Attard to vie for a place on the podium.
Elsewhere, Montenegro’s Marija Vukovic could hand the newcomers their first medal in GSSE this afternoon when the world junior champion competes in the high jump event.