Moments of tension were followed by signs of relief, joy and appreciation by several local sports athletes and officials on Monday evening as the 5 finalists of the main categories of the 65th edition of Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali were announced.

The announcement of the finalists was made at the Malta Football Association’s Centenary Hall, in which all semi-finalists were also presented a commemorative certificate.

The ceremony which was streamed live on TVM Sport+ as well as social media was addressed by Clinton Buhagiar and Lorraine Cunningham, President and General Secretary respectively of the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA).

The 65th edition of the Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali will be held on Saturday, 1st March and will be broadcast live on TVMsport+ and on the social media platforms of the Association. During the night there will be winners in 12 categories whilst once again this year members will be inducted in the Hall of Fame.

We are also very pleased to note that during the final night there will be 24 different sport represented as this year we had very strong nominations from many associations/federations. Whilst the the main categories will be decided by the professional jury vote and others will be at the discretion of the MSJA executive committee, the People’s Choice Award will be decided purely by the public vote and so we urge you to vote for your preferred finalist by sending a blank sms on the assigned numbers.

The Malta Sports Journalists thanks the following partners for their ongoing support towards the organization of this year's event and for the general support towards Sport in Malta; Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, National Lottery, Atlas Insurance, Bank of Valletta, Enemed, Responsible Gaming Foundation, VisitMalta, Teamsport, SWEAT and bolt.

The finalists for the 65th edition are:

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Neil Agius – Open Water Swimming

Norbert Attard – Darts

Brian Cini – Snooker

Lydan Debono – Blackball

Nico Sciberras – Trap Shooting

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Michelle Bonnici Mallia – Brasilian Jiu Jitsu

Francesca Curmi – Tennis

Katryna Esposito – Judo

Sasha Gatt – Swimming

Tenishia Thornton – Weightlifting

YOUTH MAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Jake Castaldi – Pool

Jayden Cutajar – Water Polo

Kayden Laganà – Bowling

Nathan Mifsud – Weightlifting

Julian Scerri – Squash

YOUTH WOMAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Karate

Thyis Antonelli – Karate

Kim Camilleri Laganà – Weightlifting

Katrina Micallef – Sailing

Michela Scerri – Taekwondo

Sophie St. John – Gymnastics

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jesmond Caruana – Weightlifting

Noel Cassar – Pool

Milan Ćirović – Water Polo

Noel Mercieca – Kickboxing

Clevion Micallef – Blackball

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

Terry Camilleri – Malta Billiards & Snooker Association

Vincent Degiorgio – Malta Pool Association

Philip Gatt – Malta Blackball Federation

Karl Izzo – Aquatic Sport Association

Bjorn Vassallo – Malta Football Association

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Blackball Men’s National Team Doubles Masters Over 50 made up of Chris Mills and Jesmond Schembri participating in the World Championships.

Blackball Men’s National Team Under-15 Doubles made up of Jake Castaldi and Dielyn Edwards participating in the World Championships.

Pool Men’s National Team Under-18 made up of Steve Muscat, Jake Castaldi, Denzel Falzon and Nick Muscat participating in the World Championships.

Water Polo Men’s Senior National Team participating in the World Cup Division 2 and in the European Championships.

Weightlifting Mixed National Team made up of Tenishia Thornton and Rylee Borg participating in the European Union Confederation Championships.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Neil Agius (Open Water Swimming) 5061 5031

Sam Cassar (Badminton) 5061 5032

Jake Castaldi (Pool) - 5061 5033

Gianluca Chetcuti (Trap Shooting) - 5061 5034

Brian Cini (Snooker) - 5061 5035

Bryan Corlett (Rugby Football Union) - 5061 5036

Rodney Gatt (Horse Racing) - 5061 5037

Kayden Laganà (Bowling) - 5061 5038

Fabio Spiteri (Triathlon) - 5061 5039

Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting) - 5061 5040

FINALISTS FOR SPORT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AWARD

Fgura United Football Club – Richmond Foundation Football Festival & Football Marathon in aid of Puttinu Cares

Fondazzjoni Caritas – Caritas Run for Life

Ħamrun Ħanin – Autism Awareness Initiatives

Malta Triathlon Federation – Fabio Spiteri Ultra Endurance Initiatives

Move – Pump It programme of street sports

The 65th edition of the Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, and thanks to the following sponsors: SWEAT, National Lottery, Atlas Insurance, Bank of Valletta, Enemed, Responsible Gaming Foundation, VisitMalta, Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS), Colourbars, Teamsport and Bolt.

Kienu evidenti l-mumenti ta’ tensjoni imħallta ma’ dawk ta’ ferħ u sodisfazzjon fost l-atleti lokali u l-uffiċjali sportivi waqt it-tħabbira tal-ħames finalisti tal-kategoriji prinċipali tal-65 edizzjoni tal-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali, li saret nhar it-Tnejn filgħaxija.

It-tħabbira tal-finalisti saret fis-Sala taċ-Ċentinarju tal-Malta Football Association u s-semifinalisti kollha ngħataw ċertifikat ta’ tifkira.

Din iċ-ċerimonja, li kellha xandira diretta fuq l-istazzjon TVM Sports+ kif ukoll il-midja soċjali, kienet indirizzata minn Clinton Buhagiar u Lorraine Cunningham, President u Segretarju Ġenerali tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport (GħĠS) rispettivament.

Il-65 edizzjoni tal-Għazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali li se ssir nhar is-Sibt l-1 ta’ Marzu se tkun imxandra dirett fuq TVMsport+ u l-midja soċjali tal-GħĠS u se tkun qed tippremja rebbieħa fi tnax-il kategorija apparti li għal darb’oħra se jkunu qed jiġu introdotti membri ġodda fil-Hall of Fame.

Bi pjaċir ninnutaw li waqt is-serata finali se jkollna 24 sport differenti rrappreżentat hekk kif għal din l-edizzjoni kellna nominazzjonijiet b’saħħithom minn ħafna assoċjazzjonijiet u federazzjonijiet. Filwaqt li fil-kategoriji prinċipali l-vot huwa f’idejn il-ġurija esperta u hemm xi unuri li huma fid-diskrezzjoni tal-Kumitat Eżekuttiv tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports, dak tal-People’s Choice Award huwa totalment f’idejn il-pubbliku ġenerali li huwa mħeġġeġ jibgħat sms vojt fuq in-numri abbinati ma’ wieħed mill-għaxar finalisti.

L-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports tixtieq tirringrazzja lill-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni, Sport, Żgħażagħ, Riċerka u Innovazzjoni, National Lottery, Atlas Insurance, Bank of Valletta, Enemed, Responsible Gaming Foundation, VisitMalta, Teamsport, SWEAT u Bolt għas-sostenn kontinwu tagħhom lejn l-organizzazzjoni ta’ dan l-avveniment annwali, kif ukoll lejn l-isport f’Malta.

IL-FINALISTI FIL-KATEGORIJA SPORTIV TAS-SENA

Neil Agius – Għawm Open Water

Norbert Attard – Darts

Brian Cini – Snooker

Lydan Debono – Blackball

Nico Sciberras – Sparar Trap

IL-FINALISTI KATEGORIJA SPORTIVA TAS-SENA

Michelle Bonnici Mallia – Brasilian Jiu Jitsu

Francesca Curmi – Tennis

Katryna Esposito – Judo

Sasha Gatt – Għawm

Tenishia Thornton – Weightlifting

FINALISTI KATEGORIJA ŻAGĦŻUGĦ TAS-SENA

Jake Castaldi – Pool

Jayden Cutajar – Water Polo

Kayden Laganà – Bowling

Nathan Mifsud – Weightlifting

Julian Scerri – Squash

FINALISTI KATEGORIJA ŻAGĦŻUGĦA TAS-SENA

Thyis Antonelli – Karate

Kim Camilleri Laganà – Weightlifting

Katrina Micallef – Ibburdjar

Michela Scerri – Taekwondo

Sophie St. John – Ġinnastika– Squash

IL-FINALISTI TAL-KATEGORIJA KOWĊ TAS-SENA

Jesmond Caruana – Weightlifting

Noel Cassar – Pool

Milan Ćirović – Water Polo

Noel Mercieca – Kickboxing

Clevion Micallef – Blackball

IL-FINALISTI KATEGORIJA UFFIĊJAL TAS-SENA

Terry Camilleri – Malta Billiards & Snooker Association

Vincent Degiorgio – Malta Pool Association

Philip Gatt – Malta Blackball Federation

Karl Izzo – Aquatic Sport Association

Bjorn Vassallo – Malta Football Association

IL-FINALISTI TIM TAS-SENA

Tim Nazzjonali tal-Irġiel tad-Doubles Masters ’l fuq minn 50 sena tal-Blackball kompost minn Chris Mills u Jesmond Schembri li ħadu sehem fil-Kampjonati tad-Dinja

Tim Nazzjonali tal-Irġiel tad-Doubles taħt il-ħmistax-il sena tal-Blackball kompost minn Jake Castaldi u Dielyn Edwards li ħadu sehem fil-Kampjonati tad-Dinja

Tim Nazzjonali tal-Irġiel taħt it-tmintax-il sena tal-Pool kompost minn Steve Muscat, Jake Castaldi, Denzel Falzon u Nick Muscat li ħadu sehem fil-Kampjonati tad-Dinja

Tim Nazzjonali tal-Irġiel tal-kbar tal-Water Polo li ħadu sehem fit-Tazza tad-Dinja Tieni Diviżjoni u l-Kampjonati Ewropej

Tim Nazzjonali mixed tal-Weightlifting kompost minn Tenishia Thornton u Rylee Borg li ħadu sehem fil-kampjonati tal-Konfederazzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea

IL-FINALISTI TAL-PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Neil Agius (Għawm Open Water) 5061 5031

Sam Cassar (Badminton) 5061 5032

Jake Castaldi (Pool) - 5061 5033

Gianluca Chetcuti (Sparar Trap) - 5061 5034

Brian Cini (Snooker) - 5061 5035

Bryan Corlett (Rugby Football Union) - 5061 5036

Rodney Gatt (Tiġrijiet taż-Żwiemel) - 5061 5037

Kayden Laganà (Bowling) - 5061 5038

Fabio Spiteri (Triathlon) - 5061 5039

Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting) - 5061 5040

IL-FINALISTI TA’ SPORT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AWARD

Fgura United Football Club – Richmond Foundation Football Festival & Football Marathon in aid of Puttinu Cares

Fondazzjoni Caritas – Caritas Run for Life

Ħamrun Ħanin – Autism Awareness Initiatives

Malta Triathlon Federation – Fabio Spiteri Ultra Endurance Initiatives

Move – Pump It programme of street sports

Il-65 edizzjoni tal-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali qed issir bil-kollaborazzjoni tal-Ministeru għall-Edukazzjoni, Sport, Żgħażagħ, Riċerka u Innovazzjoni, kif ukoll grazzi għall-isponsors li huma SWEAT, National Lottery, Atlas Insurance, Bank of Valletta, Enemed, Responsible Gaming Foundation, VisitMalta, L-Awtorità Maltija għall-Integrità fl-Isport (AIMS), Colourbars, Teamsport u Bolt.