The winners of the 65th edition of the Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali were announced on Saturday evening during a live transmission aired on TVMsport+ as well as on the Malta Sports Journalists Association’s Facebook page. The final gala night started with the Red Carpet hosted by Joanna Camilleri and Malta Sports Journalists Association’s Administrator Stephen Azzopardi.

Guest speakers during this event included the Minister responsible for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Hon. Clifton Grima and Clinton Buhagiar, President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA). Also present the international special guest French Paralympic athlete Esteban Herrault and MSJA Honorary Presidents Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, Charles Camenzuli who is also AIPS Europe President and Sandro Micallef.

Once again three veteran sports journalists were inducted in MSJA's Hall of Fame: Malta Sports Writers Association's first General Secretary Joe Cutajar, the late Colin Cauchi and Mario Saliba who is still active in sports media.

This annual awards ceremony was organised by the Malta Sports Journalists Association and supported by the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation.

During the live show hosted by Malta Sports Journalists Association’s General Secretary Lorraine Cunningham and Mario Bonnici, a total of 12 honours were announced, seven of which were a result of the votes by the jury. The rest of the awards included the People’s Choice Award awarded by 100% SMS voting, the International Sports Event of the Year and the Sport for Social Change Award chosen by the Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association and the other two were given out upon a nomination by Special Olympics Malta.

The honours were won as follows:

Sportsman of the Year – Neil Agius (Open Water Swimming)

Sportswoman of the Year – Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting)

Youth Man Athlete of the Year – Jake Castaldi (Pool)

Youth Woman Athlete of the Year – Kim Camilleri Laganà (Weightlifting)

Coach of the Year – Milan Ćirović (Water Polo)

Official of the Year – Karl Izzo (ASA)

Team of the Year – Pool Men’s National Team Under-18  participating in the World Championships.

People's Choice Award – Gianluca Chetcuti (Trap Shooting)

International Sports Event of the Year – Final 4 European Water Polo Champions League (ASA)

Sport for Social Change Award – Ħamrun Ħanin

Special Olympics Athlete Man Award – Alec Falzon (Athletics)

Special Olympics Athlete Woman Award – Maria James (Swimming)

Hall of Fame – Joe Cutajar, Colin Cauchi and Mario Saliba

Is-Sibt filgħaxija waqt xandira diretta fuq TVMsport+ u l-paġna ta’ Facebook tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports, tħabbru r-rebbieħa tal-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali. Il-65 edizzjoni bdiet bir-Red Carpet ippreżentat minn Joanna Camilleri u l-Amministratur tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports Stephen Azzopardi.

Saru diskorsi qosra tal-okkażjoni mill-Ministru responsabbli mill-Edukazzjoni, Sport, Żgħażagħ, Riċerka u Innovazzjoni l-Onor Clifton Grima u l-President tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports (GħĠS) Clinton Buhagiar Preżenti wkoll il-mistieden speċjali internazzjonali Esteban Herrault u l-Presidenti Onorarji Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, Charles Camenzuli li huwa wkoll il-President tal-AIPS Europe u Sandro Micallef.

Għal darb'oħra tliet ġurnalisti sportivi veterani ġew inklużi fil-Hall of Fame tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports: l-ewwel Segretarju Ġenerali tal-Għaqda Kittieba Sports Joe Cutajar,  il-mibki Colin Cauchi u Mario Saliba li għadu attiv fil-media sportiva lokali.

Din is-serata kienet organizzata mill-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports, bl-appoġġ sħiħ tal-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni, Sport, Żgħażagħ, Riċerka u Innovazzjoni.

Waqt din is-serata finali li kienet ippreżentata mis-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports Lorraine Cunningham u Mario Bonnici ġew mqassma 12-il unur; b’sebgħa fuq votazzjoni tal-ġurija, il-People’s Choice Award fuq vot popolari tal-pubbliku, l-Avveniment Internazzjonali tas-Sena u l-iSport for Social Change Award magħżula mill-Kumitat Eżekuttiv tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports u tnejn fuq suġġeriment ta’ Special Olympics Malta.

L-unuri kollha mqassma kienu dawn:

Sportiv tas-Sena – Neil Agius (Għawm Open Water)

Sportiva tas-Sena – Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting)

Żagħżugħ tas-Sena – Jake Castaldi (Pool)

Żagħżugħa tas-Sena – Kim Camilleri Laganà (Weightlifting)

Kowċ tas-Sena – Milan Ćirović (Water Polo)

Uffiċjal tas-Sena – Karl Izzo (ASA)

Tim tas-Sena – Tim Nazzjonali tal-Pool U18 li ħadu sehem fil-Kampjonati tad-Dinja

People’s Choice Award – Gianluca Chetcuti (Sparar Trap)

Attività Internazzjonali tas-Sena – Final 4 European Water Polo Champions League (ASA)

Sport for Social Change Award – Ħamrun Ħanin

Special Olympics Atleta Raġel – Alec Falzon (Atletika)

Special Olympics Atleta Mara – Maria James (Għawm)

Hall of Fame – Joe Cutajar, Colin Cauchi u Mario Saliba

A selection of photos from the official photographer Nicholas Falzon through this link: https://we.tl/t-3SULjYrzOU