During the last week of December 2023, the Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association announced that once again it will be organising the 64th edition of the L-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali. This announcement officially opened the nominations process for this edition, which will be held on the 2nd of March 2024.

Sports associations and federations had received an official communication whereby they had been invited to nominate their athletes in their respective categories. The categories are Sportsman and Sportswoman, Youth Sportsman and Sportswoman, Coach, Official and Team of the Year.

The deadline for the submission of the nominations was the 12th of January 2024 and all submitted nominations were evaluated before being eventually shortlisted to formulate the following semi-finalists’ list:

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Marlon Attard (Skeet Shooting)

Clayton Castaldi (Pool)

Clive Farrugia (Skeet Shooting)

Jordan Gusman (Athletics)

Steven Muscat (Blackball)

Jean Claude Pace (Horse Racing)

Giancarlo Sammut (Futsal)

Richard Schultheis (Sailing)

Brent Spiteri (Kickboxing)

Teddy Teuma (Football)

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Sue Abela (Bowling)

Eleanor Bezzina (Air Pistol Shooting)

Haley Bugeja (Football)

Francesca Curmi (Tennis)

Philippa Busuttil (Gymnastics)

Gail Diacono (Boxing)

Katryna Esposito (Judo)

Janet Richard (Athletics)

Colette Sultana (Squash)

Tenishia Thornton (Weightlifting)

YOUTH MAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Kai Azzopardi (Triathlon)

Liam Daly (Triathlon)

Rylee Borg (Weightlifting)

Nathan Degiorgio (Taekwondo)

Jake Castaldi (Blackball)

Matthew Galea Soler (Athletics)

Kayden Laganà (Bowling)

Steve Muscat (Pool)

Benjamin Vassallo (Sailing)

Timmy Vassallo (Sailing)

YOUTH WOMAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Thyis Antonelli (Karate)

Caylee Attard (Powerlifting)

Karlise Bartolo (Bowling)

Philippa Busuttil (Gymnastics)

Kim Camilleri Laganà (Weightlifting)

Ella Fenech Attard (Swimming)

Katrina Micallef (Sailing)

Thea Parnis Coleiro (Athletics)

Michela Scerri (Taekwondo)

Lijana Sultana (Squash)

COACH OF THE YEAR

Zeljko Aras (Athletics)

Gordon Asciak (Tennis)

Delon Dannhauser (Swimming)

Rodmar Pulis (Weightlifting)

Vince Saliba (Pool)

Roderick Tanti (Blackball)

Manuela Tesse (Football)

Jonathan Valletta (Water Polo)

Rick Vogelesang (Bowling)

Ditmir Vordinaj (Taekwondo)

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

Rita Azzopardi (Aquatic Sports Association of Malta)

Jesmond Caruana (Malta Weightlifting Association)

Aldrin Cassar (Athletics Malta)

Christabel Damato (Special Olympics Malta)

Vincent Degiorgio (Malta Pool Association)

Philip Gatt (Malta Blackball Federation)

Joseph Grima (Malta Paralympic Committee)

Robert Portelli (Malta Rugby Football Union)

Paul Sultana (Malta Olympic Committee)

Anna Vassallo (Malta Taekwondo Association)

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Artistic Swimming – European Junior Championship Duet

Athletics – European Athletics Team Championship

Basketball – U18 Women National Team

Blackball – U18 Men National Team

Football – Women National Team

Pool – U18 Men National Team

Rugby League – Malta Knights

Bowling – Mediterranean Championship Women Doubles Team

Water Polo – U15 Boys National Team

Weightlifting – Mediterranean Championships Mixed Team

For the People’s Choice Award, this year, the following will be chosen by 100% televoting on their respective SMS numbers:

Mario Bonello – Athletics
50615031

Clayton Castaldi – Pool
50615032

Gianluca Chetcuti – Trap Shooting
50615033

Brent Spiteri – Kickboxing
50615034

Matthias Spiteri – Sailing
50615035

Sophie St. John – Gymnastics
50615036

Colette Sultana – Squash
50615037

Tenishia Thornton – Weightlifting
50615038

Rhona Xerri – Malta Rugby Football Union
50615039

The semi-finalists were announced during last Sunday’s programme of SportLive+ on TVMSport+. The five (5) finalists will be announced on Tuesday 20th February 2024 whilst the People’s Choice Award semi-finalists will all make it to the final.

The Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali of this year will be held on Saturday 2nd March 2024.

Further information can be accessed through this link: https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/sportmalta-awards-ghazliet-sportivi-nazzjonali-rules-regulations-regolamenti/