The Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association has published the full results of both the semi final and the final voting following the 61st edition of the SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali held last Saturday.

The semi finalists were voted by 68 sports journalists who shortlisted each category from 6 to 3 who eventually made it to the final. From the 3 finalists eventuality the winner was chosen following a vote among a panel of 8 sports journalists who were:

Clinton Buhagiar – Head of Juru (Vice President GħĠS)

Valhmor Camilleri – Times of Malta (Allied Newspapers)

Chris Falzon – TVM Sport (PBS)

Davina Sammut Hili – One Sport (One Group)

Stewart Said – In-Nazzjon & Net Sports (Media.link)

Claudio Coleiro – Orizzont (Union Print)

JP Azzopardi – LovinMalta

Domenic Aquilina – The Malta Independent (Standard Publications)

 

The voting results are as follows:

Semi Final Voting 

Sportswoman of the year

  • Haley Bugeja (Football) – 62 (91.2%)
  • Sacha Gatt (Għawm) – 38 (55.9%)
  • Sue Abela (Ten Pin Bowling) – 34 (50%)
  • Yazmin Zammit Stevens (Weightlifting) – 32 (47.1%)
  • Janet Richard (Atletika) – 28 (41.2%)
  • Francesca Clark (Badminton) – 10 (14.7%)

 

Sportsman of the year

  • Ben Plumpton (Waterpolo) – 46 (67.6%)
  • Dejan Grech (Pool) – 37 (54.4%)
  • Rodney Gatt (Tiġrijiet taż-Żwiemel) – 33 (48.5%)
  • Mark Spiteri (Ten Pin Bowling) – 30 (44.1%)
  • Luke Farrugia (Atletika) – 29 (42.6%)

Jeremy Saywell (Judo) – 29 (42.6%)

 

Youth Female Athlete of the year

  • Haley Bugeja (Football) – 59 (86.8%)
  • Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting) – 53 (77.9%)
  • Tara Vella Clark (Ġinnastika) – 39 (57.4%)
  • Sasha Gatt (Għawm) – 24 (35.3%)
  • Sarah Chouhal (Atletika) – 19 (27.9%)
  • Francesca Clark (Badminton) – 10 (14.7%)

 

Youth Male Athlete of the year

  • Kayden Lagana’ (Ten Pin Bowling) – 51 (75%)
  • Richard Schultheis (Ibburdjar) – 45 (66.2%)
  • Kijan Sultana (Squash) – 41 (60.3%)
  • Rylee Borg (Weightlifting) – 37 (54.4%)
  • Jeremy Mark Gatt (Badminton) – 17 (25%)
  • Laurens Schulze Doering (Golf) – 13 (19.1%)

 

Coach of the year

  • Devis Mangia (Football) – 54 (79.4%)
  • Jesmond Caruana (Weightlifting) – 40 (58.8%)
  • Dorian Pisani (Waterpolo) – 32 (47.1%)
  • Edward Caruana Dingli (Għawm Paralimpiku) – 30 (44.1%)
  • Joseph Aquilina (Pool) – 29 (42.6%)
  • Natalya Berehova (Ġinnastika) – 19 (27.9%)

 

Official of the year

  • Vincent Degiorgio (Malta Pool Association) – 43 (63.2%)
  • Andy Grech (Athletics Malta) – 40 (58.8%)
  • Joseph Muscat (Malta Basketball Association) – 36 (52.9%)
  • Rita Azzopardi (ASA) / Pierre Cassar (Federazzjoni Maltija Lotta) – 29 (42.6%)
  • Godwin Zammit (Royal Malta Yacht Club) – 27 (39.7%)

 

Team of the year

  • Tim Nazzjonali tan-Nisa tal-Football – 58 (85.3%)
  • Elusive II Ibburdjar – 43 (63.2%)
  • Luxol Futsal Club – 33 (48.5%)
  • San Ġiljan ASC Waterpolo – 29 (42.6%)
  • Tim Nazzjonali ta’ l-Irġiel tal-Pool – 26 (38.2%)
  • Tim Nazzjonali AMF Promotion Cup Franza Ten Pin Bowling – 15 (22.1%)

 

People’s Choice Awards (Following vote by Associations and Federations)

  • Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting) – 1
  • Neil Agius (Għawm) –
  • Johanna Grech (Table Tennis)/Mark Marlow (MESA) – 6
  • Sue Abela (Ten Pin Bowling)/Antonio Flores (Athletics) – 5
  • Mark Gatt (Football) – 3
  • Liane Chircop (Karate)/Christian Schembri (Boxing) – 2

 

Final Voting:

Sportswoman of the year

  • Haley Bugeja (Futbol) – 115
  • Sue Abela (Ten Pin Bowling) – 77
  • Sacha Gatt (Għawm) – 56

 

Sportsman of the year

  • Dejan Grech (Pool) – 92
  • Ben Plumpton (Waterpolo) – 82
  • Rodney Gatt (Tiġrijiet taż-Żwiemel) – 74

 

Youth Female Athlete of the year

  • Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting) – 115
  • Haley Bugeja (Futbol) – 81
  • Tara Vella Clark (Ġinnastika) – 52

 

Youth Male Athlete of the year

  • Richard Schultheis (Ibburdjar) – 101
  • Kijan Sultana (Squash) – 87
  • Kayden Lagana (Ten Pin Bowling) – 60

 

Coach of the year

  • Devis Mangia (Football) – 101
  • Jesmond Caruana (Weightlifting) – 95
  • Dorian Pisani (Waterpolo) – 52

 

Official of the year

  • Joseph Muscat (Malta Basketball Association) – 96
  • Andy Grech (Athletics Malta) – 86
  • Vincent Degiorgio (Malta Pool Association) – 66

Team of the year

  • Tim Nazzjonali tan-Nisa tal-Football – 105
  • Elusive II Ibburdjar – 91
  • Luxol Futsal Club – 52

 

People’s Choice Award (Jury voting 60% and public vote 40%)

1. Mark Marlow (MESA) – 14.8% + 12.1% = 26.9%

2. Neil Agius (Għawm) – 18.1% + 8.4% = 26.5%

3. Johanna Grech (Table Tennis) – 10.6% + 13.5% = 24.1%

4. Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting) – 16.5% + 6.0% = 22.5%