National Lottery plc and the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA), are pleased to announce the winner of the second bi-monthly award exclusively dedicated to elite Maltese athletes.

The IZIBET Elite Athlete Award was launched to recognise exceptional performances by local athletes and as already communicated will be presented every two months covering the periods January–February, March-April, May-June, July–August, September-October, and November–December.

A selection board composed of sports journalists and sports observers is responsible for evaluating the athlete’s achievements during the designated review periods, ensuring a fair and thorough assessment process.

The second award, covering the period July–August 2023, was awarded to Pool’s World Champion Clayton Castaldi. Castaldi won this title after a superb performance in the Pool World Championship which was held in Agadir, Morocco. Castaldi had a brilliant run in the group and knock out stage where he managed to reach the final to face English professional player Josh Kane with the Maltese player winning with a final score of 11-9 and thus crowned the 2023 World Champion.

“As I already remarked at the launch of this award, we are proud of our partnership with the Malta Sports Journalists Association. By recognising the efforts of our local athletes, we aim to encourage them to continue striving for excellence in their respective fields. Clayton Castaldi’s achievement inspires national pride because, being such a small sports community, we have a Pool World Champion”, said Franco De Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer of National Lottery plc.

Sandro Micallef, President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association, commented, “I am extremely satisfied that such a reputable company like National Lottery, with its brand IZIBET, is committed to the Elite Athlete Award alongside the Malta Sports Journalists Association. We’ll continue to support Maltese athletes. Clayton Castaldi’s Pool World title is the result of continuous efforts done by the athlete himself and the association he’s representing”.

In the meantime, the official website of the Malta Sports Journalists Association https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/ provides the rules and regulations governing the award.