National Junior Championships

Emerging Talents in the Spotlight

This national competition is an established regular feature in the seasonal calendar of Badminton Malta. It focuses the spotlight on the upcoming talents within the Association’s junior ranks, whilst at the same time motivating the participants to even more achievement.

The Championships comprised the traditional five Singles and Doubles categories distinguished in three separate age brackets: U/13 and U/16 as well as U/19.

The U/13 Boys’ Singles final featured the defending champion Nigel Degaetano and last year’s finalist Matthew Abela.

This time round, it was Abela who won the direct encounter, wresting the national title from his opponent with a 21/12 - 21/10 win.

The equivalent Girls’ Singles title was won by Sarah Ann Mallia who defeated Cheryl Gilford in two straight sets with an identical score: 21/9 – 21/9.

The U/13 Boys’ Doubles category final saw brothers Mark and Matthew Abela prevail over Nigel Degaetano and Luigi Grech.

After taking the first set 21/13, the Abela brothers faced a determined reaction from their opponents in the second set; however, they still managed to edge them out with a marginal 23/21 score to win the final and the national title.

Matthew Abela added also the U/13 Mixed Doubles title to his positive record, partnered by Sasha Cini, with a 21/11 21/5 win over Mark Abela and Cheryl Gilford.

The national titles in the U/16 section were won as follows:

§ Boys’ Singles – Owen Grech (Runner-up: Kyle Sciberras).

§ Girls’ Singles – Joanne Ciantar (Runner-up: Lisa Formosa).

§ Boys’ Doubles – Owen Grech / Matthew Abela (Runners-up: Kyle Sciberras / Nigel Degaetano).

§ Girls’ Doubles – Joanne Ciantar / Jacqueline Grech Licari (Runners-up: Atlanta Cochrane / Lisa Formosa).

§ Mixed Doubles – Owen Grech / Joanne Ciantar (Runners-up: Matthew Abela / Jacqueline Grech Licari).

The U/19 section continued on the same pattern, featuring several equally interesting encounters which saw the protagonists play their hearts out in their bid to achieve national glory.

The Boys’ Singles final was arguably the best match of the Championships in which the U/16 finalists faced each other once again.

This time, it was Kyle Sciberras who prevailed over Owen Grech at the end of a three-set thriller which was played very well by both.

Grech took the first set 21/14 but Sciberras drew level by winning the second one with the same 21/14 score.

In the decisive third set, both players went all out to secure the title. In a highly charged finish, a clearly determined Sciberras managed to edge out his opponent with a 23/21 win to secure the national title.

The equivalent Girls’ Singles title was taken by Dominique Francica who had the better of her twin sister Catriona at the end of another exciting and high level three-set match which ended 21/19 – 14/21 – 21/13.

The other national titles in the U/19 were won as follows:

§ Girls’ Doubles – Dominique and Catriona Francica (Runners-up: Atlanta Cochrane / Lisa Formosa).

§ Mixed Doubles – Owen Grech / Catriona Francica (Runners-up: Matthew Abela / Dominique Francica).

Badminton Malta expressed its satisfaction at the high standard of play shown by all the participants as well as at the sporting attitude shown throughout the entire competition, noting that this augured well for the future.

John Attard General Secretary Badminton Malta

22^nd December 2011.