| Mediterranean Games
· Tunis 2001
The Tunis Games were thus celebrating the golden anniversary
of these games and the organizing committee rightly
came up with the appropriate slogan for the event –
In Tunis, the Mediterranean jubilates. In this last
edition 23 countries were represented in 23 sporting
events involving 3,500 athletes. In total 17 athletes
represented Malta and participated in six disciplines
including athletics, wrestling, cycling, golf, sailing
and air-pistol shooting.
The Maltese contingent:
MOC Officials: Mr. Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco –
President, Mr. Bertie Muscat – Deputy President,
Mr. Joe Cassar – Secretary General, Mr. Philip
Psaila – Chef de Mission, Dr. Kirill Micallef
Stafrace – Medical Doctor.
Athletes and Officials: Cycling: Jack Schiavone, Christopher
Gatt, David Galea, Etienne Bonello, Mr. John Magri –
Coach. Athletics: Mario Bonello, Rachid Chouchal, Darren
Gilford, Tanya Blake, Deidree Farrugia, Lara Gerada,
Sue Spiteri, Frans Harmsworth, Mr. Edwin Attard –
Official, Mr. Godwin Zammit – Official. Wrestling:
Abraham Vassallo, Mr. Jesmond Giordmaina – Coach.
Golf: Andrew Borg, Stefan Borg Manduca – Caddie,
Mr. Alex Mangion – Official. Sailing: Mario Aquilina,
Adrian Gauci Borda, Mr. Jerome Mainemar – Coach.
Shooting: Anton Camilleri, Mr. Paul Vella – Official.
Overview:
- Nine athletes represented Malta in athletics in
a range of events particularly sprint and middle-distance.
Raschid Chouhal and Lara Gerada took part in field
events, namely the long jump. Tanya Blake made it
to the final in the 800m and was well placed to win
a medal until an unfortunate accident occurred on
the track where she tripped pushing her into 6th place.
However, she did manage to establish a new Maltese
national record during the semi-final; now standing
at 2.05.42 in the 800m. Lara Gerada finished 8th in
the long jump with a personal best record of 5.69
metres. Raschid Chouhal broke the national record
for the long jump stretching it to 7.34m; unfortunately
this was not good enough to land him a medal.
- Andrew Borg had a satisfactory outing in the golf
competition placing 23rd out of 32 participants.
- Anton Camilleri managed to score 544 in Target Shooting
10m air pistol category to take the 13th place out
of 16th athletes. This is a best ever score obtained
by a Maltese shooter in an international competition.
Best score obtained was gold medallist Roberto Didonna
of Italy with 584 points who also holds the Olympic
title.
- In cycling Jack Schiavone and David Galea took
part in the 38km time trial and finished 17th and
20th respectively out of 25 cyclists.
- In the sailing competition Laser class Mario Aquilina
and Andrew Gauci Borda competed in 11 races over a
period of 6 days and finished 16th and 20th respectively.
- Local Wrestler Abraham Vassallo lost his 2 bouts
in the programme against eventual gold medallist from
Turkey and Tunisia’s Mohammed Ali. The second
bout was a keenly contested affair with the Tunisian
wrestler cashing in on some vociferous home support
to edge Vassallo.
- Weightlifter Michael Micallef missed the Games due
to a nagging shoulder injury.
top |
