The junior National Championships came to a close recently after an intense competition spread over eight days. This year, a record number of 60 participants competed for the most prestigious local badminton event for young players.
For the first time, Badminton Malta introduced the U-11 category for boys and girls with the winners being Jordan Abela and Sarah Azzopardi. Isaac Axisa and Lauren Azzopardi claimed the runner-up berths.
The U-13s featured four categories – boys and girls singles and doubles.
Matthew Galea was crowned champion for the first time after beating Mark Abela in two close sets, 29-27 21-17. Abela made amends in the doubles when partnering Samuel Cassar to the title.
Sarah Fava dominated the girls’ singles. In the final she beat Cheryl Gilford in straight sets, 21-7 21-14. These two players then teamed up in the doubles and beat Yanika Polidano and Rebecca Spiteri 21-11 21-11.
The U-16s and U-19s comprised all traditional categories, singles, doubles and mixed.
Kyle Sciberras confirmed his good form by claiming the U-19 title after defeating Matthew Abela 18-21 21-19 21-17. The two players were also the finalists in the U-16 singles. This time, Abela had the better of his opponent to bag his first title, 21-12 21-19.
Sciberras and Nigel Degaetano successfully defended their U-16 doubles title. The two had the better of brothers Matthew and Mark Abela in yet another close final, 21-16 21-17.
Sciberras and Nigel Degaetano had to settle for the runners-up position in the U-19 doubles as they lost their direct encounter against Owen Grech and Matthew Abela 21-15 21-14.
Grech and Matthew Abela shared the limelight with Jacqueline Grech Licari in the U-16 and U-19 mixed doubles.
Grech and Grech Licari had the better of Matthew Abela and Maria Angela Gambin in the Under-19 title match 22-20 21-9.
In the U-16 mixed doubles, Grech Licari teamed up with Matthew Abela. They faced the upcoming Samuel Cassar and Cheryl Gilford. However, the latter were no match for their opponents who made the title their own, 21-10 21-6.
Grech Licari was also the star of the U-16 and U-19 categories.
In singles final, Grech Licari beat Fava 21-12 21-5. She then won her first U-19 singles title after defeating Maria Angela Gambin in the final with an identical score of 21-12 21-5.
The U-16 girls’ double final was contested by Grech Licari/Martina Vella and Fava/Gilford.
After winning the first set with an easy 21-9 score, everyone thought that Grech Licari and Vella would end up easy winners. But Fava and Gilford made a strong comeback to put the game level (15-21) and force a deciding set.
The third set could have ended up on either side, but Grech Licari and Vella took the points that mattered most to win the set 21-18.
The new U-16 girls doubles champions also made it all the way to the final of the U-19 category. Here, Grech Licari and Vella looked more confident as they ousted Atlanta Cochrane/ Daniella Galea, 21-11 21-10.