PRESS RELEASE

Badminton –

40th Malta National Championships.

Next Wednesday (6th April) will see the start of the 40th edition of the Malta National Championships.

This can be considered as the principal event in Badminton Malta’s competitive calendar for this season. It never fails to generate considerable interest among all the Association’s members and to attract the attention of the media.

From the 27th edition (which was played in 1998) onwards, Badminton Malta has chosen to sub-title this event as the “Paddy Stubbs Memorial Championships”, in order to keep alive the memory of this generous benefactor of Maltese Sport.

The Championships are being played at the Cottonera Sports Complex, starting at 7:00pm. They will come to their end on the 1st May, with the Finals being played at St. Martin’s College in Swatar.

The overall event comprises the traditional five categories: Men’s Singles and Doubles, Women’s Singles and Doubles as well as the Mixed Doubles.

Due to the considerable number of participants, the Men’s Singles category will start with a Preliminary Phase, at the end of which the top two players will progress to the Main Draw where they will face tougher opposition from more experienced players.

In this category, defending champion Stefan Salomone will once again have to face the challenge posed by Kenneth Vella, last season’s finalist, if he is to retain his crown for yet another edition.

David Cole, Edmond Abela and Aldo Polidano are also expected to have a say in determining the final destination of this national title.

In the Women’s Singles, defending champion Maria Borg appears to be equally determined not to let the national title slip from her grasp. She will however have to come to terms with Fiorella Farrugia, last season’s finalist.

A number of other participants – among whom are Dominique and Catriona Francica, Marika Micallef and Klara O’Berg – are also expected to have a say in the proceedings in their quest to leave their mark on this category.

A keen tussle is equally expected in the remaining three Doubles categories, as the participants will be doing their utmost to spring a surprise on the defending champions in each category.

While wishing the best of luck to all the participants, Badminton Malta expressed its satisfaction at the high number of competitors who will be vying for its national titles; this evidences the ever increasing popularity of this sport.

It also invited the Maltese sporting public to attend these Championships in order to appreciate Maltese Badminton at its best.

John Attard General Secretary Badminton Malta

2nd April 2011.