62 medals for Malta in the Invitational Games

The Malta Invitational Games wrapped up on Sunday evening with Malta securing a total of 62 medals—23 gold, 22 silver, and 17 bronze—earning them second place behind the dominant Cypriot team.

The second edition of the Malta Invitational Games saw 200 athletes from 16 countries competing in badminton, taekwondo, swimming, and water polo. Open to Under-15 and Under-18 athletes, the event aligned with the Maltese Olympic Committee’s (MOC) strategy to foster emerging talent and provide young athletes with international experience.

The selection of participants was coordinated by the relevant federations, ensuring strong alignment between the MOC and the sporting bodies, ultimately supporting youth sports development.

“The Malta Invitational Games were designed to give our young athletes valuable experience in international competition. This exposure not only helps them hone their skills but also allows the MOC to assess performance, capitalize on strengths, and address areas needing improvement,” said Charlene Attard, the MOC’s Director of Sport.

Badminton

The tournament’s final day featured the mixed doubles semi-finals and all five championship finals, capping off the competition with thrilling matches. Cyprus impressed with a dominant performance, winning three of the five boys’ events, including Boys’ Singles and Boys’ Doubles. Meanwhile, the Faroe Islands excelled in the girls’ events, claiming victory in both Girls’ Singles and Girls’ Doubles.

Malta made its presence felt, winning two bronze medals—one in Boys’ Doubles with Juan Casaru and Jeremy Gatt, and another in Girls’ Singles with Martina Clark.

Taekwondo

Malta sent 34 athletes to compete across various taekwondo categories, returning with an impressive haul of 16 gold, 14 silver, and 8 bronze medals—five times the medal count from the 2022 games. The event also marked the debut of Malta’s first poomsae team, Jovo Mirkovic and Sinan Koruk, who secured second place.

The competition included athletes from 17 other countries, with Kostas Kalaudis serving as the International Referee Chair.

Swimming

A total of 36 events were held for Under-15 and Under-18 athletes, with Malta finishing second in the overall medal standings. The Maltese 4x50m Medley Relay team—comprising Michela Portelli, Julienne Woods, Nirvana Micallef, and Kristy Delia—set a new Short Course record with a time of 2:04.90. In individual performances, Ella Fenech Attard and Luca Grixti set new Age Group records in the Women’s 400m Medley and Men’s 50m Butterfly events, respectively.

Nathan Cachia was named the top male performer based on World Aquatics Points.

Water Polo

On the final day, Malta’s two water polo teams played against Cagliari and Cyprus. Malta B faced Cagliari in a closely contested match but fell 5-9, with the Italians proving stronger in swimming and shooting. Malta A U16 played Cyprus U18, losing 7-13 after a strong start but ultimately conceding six unanswered goals in the final session. Despite the setbacks, Malta A secured a bronze medal at the competition’s conclusion.

Organizational Success

From a logistical perspective, MOC Secretary General Kevin Azzopardi emphasized Malta’s capacity to host international events, citing the country’s excellent infrastructure as key to delivering a high-quality competition.

MOC President Julian Pace Bonello concluded the event by thanking the federations for their outstanding collaboration and extending gratitude to the many volunteers who played a vital role in ensuring the event’s success.

The Malta Invitational Games were supported by SportMalta, APS Bank, the National Lottery, and General Soft Drinks.

2024 Malta Invitational Games Medal Tally