Squash - Challenge Cup

Organised by the European Squash Federation, this tournament saw the participation of 20 men and women teams from nine other countries, including hosts Poland, Ukraine, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Russia and Croatia.

The girls in the Maltese team were Annabelle Olivieri Monroe, Theresa Brousson, Johanna Rizzo and Colette Sultana. The final was played against Cyprus, the main contenders for the GSSE 2011, and Malta maintained their perfect record throughout the tournament and won all three games without dropping a set.

In the first set, Olivieri Monroe had to work hard against experienced Cypriot Vaso Karasava but still managed to win 3-0.

Rizzo was in a class of her own when playing their no.3 player Antonia Aristisdemouo and also won by the same 3-0 scoreline.

Playing the dead rubber, where only two sets are required for a win, team manager Ivan Balzan introduced Sultana, 14.

Currently, Sultana is ranked no.21 in the European U-15 rankings. In the final, she kept her composure and sealed a deserved victory for the national team.

The men’s national team also took part in the Challenge Cup but with no.2 player Mike Fiteni injured there was little the team could do.

Fiteni had to be rested ahead of this month’s European Small Nations Tournament in Malta.

Brad Hindle Deguara, the no.1 in the national team, had a great tournament and won all his games 3-0 against all opposition.

Hamstring trouble to Mark Lupi during the match against Gibraltar, when the Maltese player was leading 10-5, proved to be fatal for the team, missing out on a quarter-final spot by a mere few points.

The team also included Bernard Bugeja and Carl Camilleri.