Participation in the “Friendship Games”.

Badminton Malta has recently participated in the fourth edition of the “Friendship Games”, organised by the Maltese Olympic Committee together with CONI Sicilia.

This international event took place in Malta from the 18th to the 21st November 2010 inclusive, featuring Maltese and Sicilian teams in ten separate sports disciplines.

In addition to Badminton, the Games saw the participation of Fencing, Chess, Triathlon, Golf, Billiard, Beach Volley, Canoeing, Karate and Equestrian sports.

Badminton Malta fielded two separate teams, designated as Malta ‘A’ and Malta ‘B’, which were made up of the best local male and female players. They played against the visiting Sicilian team which was similarly made up of the best Sicilian badminton talent.

The overall Badminton event in the “Friendship Games” comprised both a Team Event as well as an Individual Event. These took place at the sports hall of the Immaculate Conception school, in Tarxien.

In the Team Event, each fixture comprised five different games: Men’s and Women’s Singles, Men’s and Women’s Doubles as well as Mixed Doubles.

The following are the results of the three matches played:

§ Malta “A” defeated Malta “B” 4-1;

§ Malta “A” defeated Sicily 5-0;

§ Sicily defeated Malta “B” 3-2.

The best game of the Team Event was certainly the Men’s Singles encounter between the local Stefan Salomone and his Sicilian opponent Filippo Speciale which was played over three exciting and balanced sets during which both players gave their all.

The final result saw Salomone prevail over his Sicilian opponent with the following scores: 24/22 - 22/24 - 25/23.

The Individual Event comprised separate Men’s and Women’s Singles competitions which were played on a knock-out basis.

The Men’s Singles competition saw once again the direct encounter between Salomone and Speciale who faced each other in the final. The Maltese player prevailed once again over his Sicilian counterpart, this time in two straight sets which ended with the following scores: 23/21 - 21/17.

In the final of the Women’s Singles competition, the Sicilian player Mirella Militello made amends for her defeat in the preceding Team Event at the hands of Maria Borg by beating her in two sets, both of which ended with an identical 21/16 result.

Badminton Malta expressed its satisfaction not only at the positive result obtained but also at the commitment shown by all the participants who played their hearts out.

It is to be noted that Badminton was one of the five sports disciplines which managed to overcome their Sicilian opponents.

Badminton Malta expressed its gratitude to the Maltese Olympic Committee for being given this opportunity to take part once again in the “Friendship Games”, in which it has participated since their very first edition.

Badminton Malta expressed its conviction that sports events of this nature provide a great opportunity for its better players to enhance their international experience while motivating them to continue improving their standard of play.

Badminton Malta now looks forward with great interest to the 2011 edition of the “Friendship Games” which should be taking place in Siracusa, Sicily; the specific dates of this event will be announced later on.

John Attard

General Secretary

Badminton Malta.