Moments of tension were followed by signs of relief, joy and appreciation by several local sports athletes on Tuesday afternoon as the 5 finalists of the main categories of the 64th edition of Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali were announced.

In total there are 36 individuals who made it for the final night which will be held on Saturday 2nd March.

The announcement of the finalists was made at the main hall within the Institute for Physical Education and Sports at the University of Malta, in which all semi-finalists were also presented a commemorative certificate.

The ceremony which was streamed live on social media was addressed by the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Education, Sport, Youths, Research, and Innovation Mr Matthew Vella together with Sandro Micallef and Lorraine Cunningham, President and General Secretary respectively of the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA) 

The 64th edition of the Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali will be held on Saturday, 2nd March and will be broadcast live on TVMSport+ and on the social media platforms of the Association.

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 and the French Embassy in Malta.

The finalists for the 64th edition are:

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Marlon Attard - Skeet Shooting
Clayton Castaldi - Pool
Jordan Gusman - Athletics
Steven Muscat - Blackball
Teddy Teuma – Football

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Sue Abela - Bowling
Haley Bugeja - Football
Francesca Curmi - Tennis
Janet Richard - Athletics
Tenishia Thornton – Weightlifting

YOUTH MAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Kai Azzopardi - Triathlon
Rylee Borg - Weightlifting
Jake Castaldi - Blackball
Kayden Lagana - Bowling
Steven Muscat – Pool

YOUTH WOMAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Thyis Antonelli - Karate
Caylee Attard - Powerlifting
Philippa Busuttil - Gymnastics
Kim Camilleri Lagana - Weightlifting
Lijana Sultana – Squash

COACH OF THE YEAR

Zeljko Aras - Athletics 
Vince Saliba - Pool
Roderick Tanti - Blackball
Manuela Tesse - Football
Jonathan Valletta - Water Polo

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

Jesmond Caruana - Malta Weightlifting Association
Aldrin Cassar - Athletics Malta
Christabel D’Amato - Special Olympics Malta
Vincent Degiorgio - Malta Pool Association
Philip Gatt - Malta Blackball Federation

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Basketball - U18 Women National Team
Blackball - U18 Men National Team
Football - Women National Team
Pool - U18 Men National Team
Water Polo - U15 Boys National Team

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Mario Bonello – Athletics
Clayton Castaldi – Pool
Gianluca Chetcuti – Trap Shooting
Brent Spiteri – Kickboxing
Matthias Spiteri – Sailing
Sophie St John – Gymnastics
Colette Sultana – Squash
Tenishia Thornton – Weightlifting
Rhona Xerri – Malta Rugby Football Union

SPORT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AWARD

FC Ħamrun Amateurs
Fgura United Football Club
Malta Boxing Association

Kienu evidenti l-mumenti ta’ tensjoni imħallta ma’ dawk ta’ ferħ u sodisfazzjon fost l-atleti lokali waqt it-tħabbira tal-ħames finalisti tal-kategoriji prinċipali tal-64 edizzjoni tal-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali, li saret nhar it-Tlieta filgħaxija.

B’kollox huma 36 individwi li għamluha għas-serata finali li se ssir nhar is-SIbt 2 ta’ Marzu.

It-tħabbira tal-finalisti saret fis-Sala Prinċipali tal-Istitut għall-Edukazzjoni Fiżika u l-Isport fi ħdan l-Università ta' Malta u s-semifinalisti kollha ngħataw ċetrifkat ta’ tifkira.

Din iċ-ċerimonja, li kellha xandira diretta fuq il-midja soċjali, kellha wkoll diskorsi mis-Segretarju Permanenti għall-Ministeru tal-Edukazzjoni , Sport, Żgħażagħ, Riċerka u l-Innovazzjoni Matthew Vella, kif ukoll mingħand Sandro Micallef u Lorraine Cunningham, President u Segretarju Ġenerali tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sport (GħĠS) rispettivament.

L-64 edizzjoni tal-Għazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali li se ssir nhar is-Sibt 2 ta’ Marzu se tkun imxandra dirett fuq TVMSport+ u l-midja soċjali tal-GħĠS.

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 u l-Ambaxxata Franċiża f’Malta għas-sostenn kontinwu tagħhom lejn l-organizzazzjoni ta’ dan l-avveniment annwali u kif ukoll lejn l-isport f’Malta.

IL-FINALISTI FIL-KATEGORIJA SPORTIV TAS-SENA

Marlon Attard - Sparar Skeet
Clayton Castaldi - Pool
Jordan Gusman - Atletika
Steven Muscat - Blackball
Teddy Teuma – Football

IL-FINALISTI KATEGORIJA SPORTIVA TAS-SENA

Sue Abela - Bowling
Haley Bugeja - Football
Francesca Curmi - Tennis
Janet Richard - Atletika
Tenishia Thornton – Weightlifting

FINALISTI KATEGORIJA ŻAGĦŻUGĦ TAS-SENA

Kai Azzopardi - Triathlon
Rylee Borg - Weightlifting
Jake Castaldi - Blackball
Kayden Lagana - Bowling
Steven Muscat – Pool

FINALISTI KATEGORIJA ŻAGĦŻUGĦA TAS-SENA

Thyis Antonelli - Karate
Caylee Attard - Powerlifting
Philippa Busuttil - Ġinnastika
Kim Camilleri Lagana - Weightlifting
Lijana Sultana – Squash

IL-FINALISTI TAL-KATEGORIJA KOWĊ TAS-SENA HUMA

Zeljko Aras - Atletika 
Vince Saliba - Pool
Roderick Tanti - Blackball
Manuela Tesse - Football
Jonathan Valletta - Water Polo

IL-FINALISTI KATEGORIJA UFFIĊJAL TAS-SENA

Jesmond Caruana - Malta Weightlifting Association
Aldrin Cassar - Athletics Malta
Christabel D’Amato - Special Olympics Malta
Vincent Degiorgio - Malta Pool Association
Philip Gatt - Malta Blackball Federation

IL-FINALISTI TIM TAS-SENA

Basketball - Tim Nazzjonali Nisa U18
Blackball - Tim Nazzjonali Irġiel U18
Football - Tim Nazzjonali Nisa
Pool - Tim Nazzjonali Irġiel U18 
Water Polo - Tim Nazzjonali Irġiel U15

IL-FINALISTI TAL-PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Mario Bonello – Atletika
Clayton Castaldi – Pool
Gianluca Chetcuti – Sparar Trap
Brent Spiteri – Kickboxing
Matthias Spiteri – Ibburdjar
Sophie St John – Ġinnastika
Colette Sultana – Squash
Tenishia Thornton – Weightlifting
Rhona Xerri – Malta Rugby Football Union

IL-FINALISTI TA’ SPORT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AWARD

FC Ħamrun Amateurs
Fgura United Football Club
Malta Boxing Association