Distinguished personalities at St Aloysius Alfredo Monti's national team members will be testing their wits this weekend during the 20th Malta International Open at St Aloysius College, Birkirkara.
The squad has just figured in the national championships, obtaining some remarkable results. However, the focus will be on Marcon Bezzina, Malta's only prospective judoka for the Olympics in Athens.
The foreign judokas for the Malta International Open will hail from Lazio, Sicily, Milan, Russia, Tunisia, Cyprus, Wales and Northern Ireland. Contacts are still on with clubs in Hungary and Germany to take part in the tournament as well.
Among the guests for the Open are international federation secretary general Dr Heidi Dhouib as well as two former world champions - Densign White, of the UK, and Germany's Daniel Lascau.
White is the current British Judo Association chairman. Lascau, who will conduct a 'work-out' at Bay Street on Saturday, is vice president of the German Judo Federation.
Besides Bezzina, the squad includes Murman Korchilava, Vicky Licari and Eileen Portelli. International referees Alex Bezzina and John Zammit will control some bouts during the tournament.
The Malta Judo Federation is assisted by the Malta Olympic Committee in organising the International Open.
One may obtain more details by phoning 21-319944.