Published 17 Feb 2026

Gabriel Farrugia (Athletics) and Xavier Rizzo (Snooker) are the winners of January’s Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month Award.

Gabriel Farrugia, one of Malta’s most promising long-distance runners representing Żurrieq AC, secured the 10km National Championship title in January after delivering an outstanding performance at Ta’ Qali. Farrugia clocked an impressive time of 30 minutes and 19 seconds, establishing a new Under 23 national record.

The young athlete has been dominating the national road running scene throughout the 2025-2026 season, consistently producing top-level performances and confirming his status as one of Malta’s leading endurance runners.

Meanwhile, Maltese snooker player Xavier Rizzo progressed to the last 16 of the World Junior Snooker Championships that were held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Rizzo enjoyed an excellent start to the tournament, topping his group to secure qualification to the knockout stages before continuing his positive run on the international stage.His performances in Bulgaria highlight his growing reputation as one of Malta’s most promising young snooker talents.

The Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month Award for January was presented to the winners by Matthew von Brockdorff, Managing Director and CEO of Atlas Insurance, together with Robert Micallef, Chief Commercial Officer of Atlas Insurance. The Malta Sports Journalists Association was represented by President Antvin Monseigneur.

This award is a joint initiative of the Malta Sports Journalists Association and Atlas Insurance. The adjudicating panel of this award takes note of all the youths’ achievements of the month under review and, at the same time, invites local sport associations and federations to send in their nominations for consideration if they feel that any of their under-21 athletes have distinguished themselves during that month. All the monthly winners are eligible for the annual award.

Nominations for this award may be sent via email to info@maltasportsjournalists.com. The rules and regulations of the award can be viewed on the website www.maltasportsjournalists.com

Gabriel Farrugia u Xavier Rizzo huma r-rebbieħa tal-Premju Atlas Atleti Żgħażagħ tax-Xahar għal Jannar

Gabriel Farrugia (Atletika) u Xavier Rizzo (Snooker) huma r-rebbieħa tal-Atlas Atleti Żgħażagħ tax-Xahar ta’ Jannar. Gabriel Farrugia huwa wieħed mill-aktar atleti promettenti fid-distanzi twal. Hu jirrappreżenta lil Żurrieq AC u rebaħ il-Kampjonat Nazzjonali tal-10km f’Jannar wara prestazzjoni mill-aqwa f’Ta’ Qali. Farrugia kiseb ħin impressjonanti ta’ 30 minuta u 19-il sekonda, u stabbilixxa rekord nazzjonali ġdid fil-kategorija Under 23.L-atleta żagħżugħ ilu jiddomina x-xena tat-tiġrijiet fit-triq matul l-istaġun 2025–2026, b’wirjiet konsistenti ta’ livell għoli li jikkonfermaw l-istatus tiegħu bħala wieħed mill-aqwa atleti tal-ġiri fit-tul f’Malta.

Sadanittant, il-plejer Malti tas-snooker Xavier Rizzo f’Jannar li għadda kien mal-aħħar 16 tal-Kampjonat Dinji tal-Junior tas-Snooker li saru f’Sofija, il-Bulgarija. Rizzo kellu bidu eċċellenti fil-kompetizzjoni meta temm fl-ewwel post fil-grupp tiegħu biex għadda għall-fażi knock-out u kompla juri livell għoli fuq livell internazzjonali. Il-prestazzjonijiet tiegħu fil-Bulgarija jkomplu jsaħħu r-reputazzjoni tiegħu bħala wieħed mill-aktar talenti żgħażagħ promettenti fis-snooker Malti.

Il-Premju Atlas Atleti Żgħażagħ tax-Xahar għal Jannar ġie ppreżentat lir-rebbieħa minn Matthew von Brockdorff, Managing Director u CEO ta’ Atlas Insurance, flimkien ma’ Robert Micallef, Chief Commercial Officer ta’ Atlas Insurance. L-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports kienet irrappreżentata mill-President Antvin Monseigneur.

Dan il-premju huwa inizjattiva konġunta bejn l-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports u Atlas Insurance. Il-bord ta’ ġudikazzjoni ta’ dan il-premju jqis il-kisbiet kollha taż-żgħażagħ matul ix-xahar inkwistjoni u fl-istess ħin jistieden lill-assoċjazzjonijiet u federazzjonijiet sportivi lokali sabiex jibagħtu n-nominazzjonijiet tagħhom jekk iqisu li xi atleti ta’ taħt il-21 sena ddistingwew ruħhom matul dak ix-xahar. Ir-rebbieħa kollha ta’ kull xahar ikunu eliġibbli għall-premju annwali.

In-nominazzjonijiet għal dan il-premju jistgħu jintbagħtu permezz ta’ email lil info@maltasportsjournalists.com. Ir-regoli u r-regolamenti tal-premju jistgħu jinstabu fuq is-sit elettroniku www.maltasportsjournalists.com.