Gabriel Grixti, Malta’s current senior national table tennis champion and a seven-time Maltese Premier League winner, has publicly challenged the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) over his exclusion from the table tennis team selected to represent the country at the 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in Andorra.
His detailed social media statement, backed by titles, years of service to the sport, and a heavy training schedule while pursuing a medical degree, has ignited fresh scrutiny into the MOC’s selection policies and the use of naturalised athletes in representing Malta.
In a passionate post, Grixti stated: “To my disbelief, I’ve been excluded, despite being the current Maltese national seniors champion… I have consistently dedicated over 18 hours a week to my sport, sacrificing a lot to train on the table, in the gym, on the track, and in mental preparation. All for one goal: to represent Malta with pride on the international stage.”
He went on to criticise the heavy inclusion of foreign-born athletes in the 2025 squad, five out of six of whom are naturalised, he notes, adding: “These same players trained with us briefly in 2022, reappeared just before the Games in 2023, and vanished right after… Now they’re back, not to represent Malta out of passion or pride, but for pay.”
This is not the first time the MOC’s reliance on naturalised athletes has sparked debate. In 2023, four passports were issued days before the GSSE to enable certain players to represent Malta. While that decision was justified as aiming to boost Malta’s medal chances, it continues to raise questions about sustainability and inclusivity within Malta’s sporting system.
The Selection criteria:
The selection criteria, published by the MOC in December 2024, outline detailed requirements for eligibility across all sports. For table tennis, candidates were expected to meet a range of standards, including:
- Positive performance in at least two international tournaments in 2024 and one in 2025, with a minimum 50 per cent win rate or competitive scoring against higher-ranked athletes.
- High national and international ranking.
- Technical skill, fitness, injury status, and overall contribution to Team Malta’s needs.
However, as Grixti points out, “In practice it was applied inconsistently, to their advantage when needed and to discriminate against others.”
The MOC’s official documentation does provide broad discretionary powers to deviate from published criteria, “particularly if it is clear that such deviation could result in better performances at the Games.” This, in Grixti’s view, opens the door to subjective and opaque decisions. “Why has the current national champion, who has done everything right, been left out?” he asked.
The MOC’s Right of Reply
In a detailed response, the MOC defended its position, stating that Grixti had not met the criteria in full, particularly regarding international representation and commitment to the national training structure. “During this season, Mr Grixti played only in one of the two local ranking tournaments. More importantly, Mr Grixti was also offered twice to represent our nation in approved MOC international competitions for evaluation; however, he refused to attend,” the reply reads.
The MOC further asserted that Grixti’s claims of unfair treatment are unfounded and that he had not participated meaningfully in development efforts since early 2025, only attending two training sessions. “Claiming to be training 18 hours a week is not enough. Attendance, trajectory for improvement and tactical plans for positive results are all part of the evaluation,” the statement continues.
Moreover, the MOC underlined that being a national champion, while commendable, is not necessarily reflective of international competitiveness. “Being a small state, it’s very nice to be the national champion. However, the weight given to the title is not high… competing abroad at a higher level than Malta is crucial.”
The Committee also highlighted support it had given to Grixti in the past, including funding and logistical aid for competitions and travel, pointing out that several of the athletes Grixti had criticised had helped him in his career. “It is very worrying when Mr Grixti feels fit to be part of the team while pointing out the faults that he assumes and invents on the rest of squad,” they wrote.
Fairness or favouritism?
Grixti’s case has brought to light a deeper tension within Maltese sport: the fine line between fielding the most competitive team and supporting the development of local athletes. While the MOC insists that its decisions are based on objectivity and international standards, Grixti’s exclusion raises the issue of whether home-grown talent is being marginalised in favour of quick wins through naturalisation.
Critically, the MOC itself acknowledges in its documentation that meeting the minimum qualification standards “does not secure a place in the selected team”. This ambiguity leaves selection vulnerable to interpretation, and potentially, to bias.
Grixti concluded his post with a sentiment of betrayal: “This is not just about me. This is about fairness. This is about accountability… I feel abandoned by the very institutions that should be protecting athletes and the sport.”
While the MOC’s goal of elevating Malta’s international sporting profile is commendable, the backlash following Grixti’s exclusion suggests a growing rift between its administrative decisions and the athletes who serve the national cause year-round. As the GSSE 2025 draws closer, this episode is likely to provoke broader debate about the long-term vision for Maltese sport, one that balances ambition with home-grown loyalty and integrity.
