PRESS RELEASE
Badminton: National Championships –
Salomone Retains Triple Crown.
Badminton
From the 27th edition
(which was played in 1998) onwards, Badminton
The overall event comprised
the traditional five categories: Men’s Singles and Doubles, Women’s Singles and
Doubles as well as the Mixed Doubles.
Due
to the large number of participants, the Men’s Singles category started with a
preliminary phase; this was won by Samuel Cali who defeated Ivan Salomone 21/11
21/15 in the final.
Stefan
Salomone, the defending champion, made it once again to the main Singles final
where he faced Kenneth Vella. On his way to the final, Salomone had overcome Edmond
Abela and Aldo Polidano whilst Vella had defeated Stephen Ferrante and David
Cole.
The
final itself was a one-sided affair which Salomone held in control practically from
start to finish.
In
the first set, he initially opened up a 4/0 lead and was already 11/3 ahead at
the half-way stage, before proceeding to wrap up the set 21/5.
The
second set seemed to start in a more balanced fashion with both players tied at
3/3. But Salomone gradually surged ahead to lead 11/6 at the half-way stage,
before taking the set 21/10 and, with it, the National Singles title.
Maria
Borg and Fiorella Farrugia, last year’s finalists, made it once again to the
final of the Women’s Singles category.
On
her way to the final, Borg had defeated Maria Attard and Catriona Francica whilst
Farrugia had overcome Dominique Francica and Marica Micallef.
The
final itself was a finely balanced three-set affair in which both sides played
their hearts out.
Throughout
the first set, both players were head-to-head and tied at 15/15, before Borg
scored six consecutive points to take the set 21/15.
The
second set was similarly very balanced with the players tied at 18/18; but it
was Farrugia who surged ahead to take the set 21/18 and put the match on an
even keel.
The
decisive third set initially seemed to follow the same blueprint, with the
finalists tied at 10/10.
However,
as Farrugia seemed to run out of steam, it was Borg who went ahead to take the
set 21/10 and retain her National Singles title.
The national Men’s Doubles title
was won by Stefan Salomone / Aldo Polidano at the end of a balanced
three-setter in which they defeated Kenneth Vella / David Cole 21/18, 11/21 and
21/16.
Stefan Salomone and Fiorella Farrugia retained the
national Mixed Doubles title; they won the respective final 21/19 21/9 over Kenneth
Vella and Catherine Dimech.
Maria Borg and Fiorella Farrugia retained the Women’s
Doubles title they had won in the 2010 edition.
By winning three national titles, Stefan Salomone retained
also the platonic “Triple Crown” title which he had won in the 2010 edition of
these Championships.
Badminton
John
Attard
General
Secretary
Badminton