The finalists of this year’s Sport Malta Awards Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali were announced. This event is aimed to acknowledge the sporting achievements acquired during the year 2021. A total of 69 journalists who are members of the Malta Sports Journalists Association had to cast their vote for the five finalists in each category.

During a press conference held at the Teddie Borg Hall at SportMalta’s Cottonera Sports Complex, which was transmitted live on social media, the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima congratulated all of those who made it to the semi-finals and wished success to those who are now the finalists of this edition.

The President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association, Sandro Micallef said that he’s satisfied with the members’ participation in the voting process and hopes that the final choice really reflects the achievements acquired by the athletes, coaches, teams and officials throughout the year 2021. Micallef added that the international guests for the awards ceremony are Iannis Daras, AIPS Vice President and Erodotos Militiadous President of the Cyprus Sports Journalists Association.

The finalists of the 62nd edition are:

Sportsman of the Year
NEIL AGIUS – Open Water Swimming
THOMAS BORG – Paralympics
GARY GIORDIMAINA – Wrestling
BEN PLUMPTON – Water Polo
JEREMY ZAMMIT – Long Jump (Athletics)

Sportswoman of the Year

SUE ABELA – Ten Pin Bowling
CLAIRE AZZOPARDI – Long Jump (Athletics)
MYA AZZOPARDI – Swimming
ELEANOR BEZZINA – Target Shooting
YAZMIN ZAMMIT STEVENS – Weightlifting

Youth Athlete of the Year Men

JAYDEN CUTAJAR – Water Polo
KAYDEN LAGANÀ – Ten Pin Bowling
RICHARD SCHULTHEIS – Sailing
KIJAN SULTANA – Squash
JEREMY ZAMMIT – Long Jump (Athletics)

Youth Athlete of the Year Women

FRANCESCA CLARK – Badminton
CHERISE FARRUGIA– Horse Racing
SASHA GATT – Swimming
TENISHIA THORNTON – Weightlifting
TARA VELLA CLARK – Gymnastics

Coach of the Year

ANTHONY FARRUGIA – Water Polo
JESMOND GIORDIMAINA – Wrestling
JIVKO JECHEV – Athletics
RODMAR PULIS – Weightlifting
RICK VOGELESANG – Ten Pin Bowling

Official of the Year

JULIAN BAJADA – Paralympics
TERRY CAMILLERI – Billiards & Snooker
JESMOND CARUANA – Weightlifting
TRUSTIN FARRUGIA CANN – Football
BERNARD VASSALLO – Basketball

Team of the Year

Billiards & Snooker – MASTERS TEAM MEN
Futsal – LUXOL ST ANDREWS TEAM MEN
Rugby – MALTA NATIONAL TEAM MEN
Water Polo – MALTA NATIONAL TEAM U/15 MEN
Weightlifting – EUROPEAN SMALL NATIONS TEAM MIXED

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
NEIL AGIUS – Open Water Swimming
NOEL AQUILINA – Wheelchair Basketball
ANDY GRECH – Athletics
MAJA THEUMA – Paralympics
TENISHIA THORNTON – Weightlifting

SportMalta Awards will also acknowledge the best two athletes of Special Olympics Malta and the Best Initiative for the Organization of an International Event in Malta.

The General Secretary of the Malta Sports Journalists Association, Lorraine Cunningham appealed to all finalists, coaches and their family members not to try and influence journalists in their final voting. Such individuals will be disqualified immediately from voting.

The 62nd edition of the SportMalta Awards of this year will he held on Saturday, 23rd April at the Corinthia St. George’s Bay in St. Julian’s with the Red Carpet which will be transmitted live on social media as from 8pm and the Awards Ceremony which will also be transmitted live on TVM News+ starting from 8:45pm onwards.