Malta's Men U16 Water Polo Team and Katrina Micallef (Sailing) are the winners of the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month Award for June.

Malta's Men U16 Water Polo Team participated in the World Aquatics U-16 Championship, which was held in Malta between the 18th and 24th of June. This tournament featured young talents from around the globe and the Maltese youths showed dedication and determination to secure the 17th place in the World Championship.

Playing in Group H, the Maltese youths started with overwhelmingly defeating Kazakhstan 16-6 but then lost against Romania 12-11 and Greece 8-4. In the classification matches, the Maltese team won against South Africa 16-9, Türkiye 8-4, and Israel 11-8.

Meanwhile, Katrina Micallef, aged 16, won a historic bronze medal for Malta at the ILCA 4 World Championship, held in Portugal, between the 22nd and 30th of June.

Micallef triumphed in a field of 150 athletes representing 45 nations in the girls’ category.

Dutch sailors Hieke Schraffordt and Feline van Ede dominated the regatta as they took the top two berths in the standings. Micallef filled the final spot on the podium with 63 points ahead of Italy’s highly rated sailor Clara Lorenzi. This success for Katrina Micallef followed extensive winter preparation, allowing her to do well despite unfavourable weather conditions.

Matthew von Brockdorff, Managing Director and CEO of Atlas Insurance, together with Robert Micallef, Chief Commercial Officer, presented the Atlas Youth Athlete of the Month Award to the winners. The Malta Sports Journalists Association was represented by Administrator Stephen Azzopardi.

This award is a joint initiative of the Malta Sports Journalists Association and Atlas Insurance. The adjudicating panel of this award takes note of all the youths’ national and international achievements of the month under review, and at the same time, it invites local sport associations and federations to send in their nominations for consideration if they feel that any of their under-21 athletes have distinguished themselves during that month. All the monthly winners are eligible for the annual award.

Nominations for this award may be sent via email to info@maltasportsjournalists.com. The rules and regulations of this award can be viewed through the link https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/atlas-youth-athlete-of-the-month-rules-and-regulations/

It-Tim Nazzjonali tal-Water Polo tal-Irġiel ta’ taħt is-16-il sena u Katrina Micallef (Ibburdjar) huma r-rebbieħa tal-unur tal-Atlas Atleta Żagħżugħ/a tax-Xahar għal Ġunju 2024.

It-Tim Nazzjonali tal-Water Polo tal-Irġiel ta’ taħt is-16-il sena ħa sehem fil-Kampjonat tad-Dinja ta’ taħt is-16-il sena li sar f’pajjiżna, bejn it-18 u l-24 ta’ Ġunju. Ħadu sehem fost l-aqwa atleti żgħażagħ minn madwar id-dinja, fejn il-Maltin b’dedikazzjoni u determinazzjoni liema bħala, spiċċaw fis-17-il post.

Fi Grupp H, Malta bdiet b’rebħa kbira ta’ 16-6 kontra l-Każakistan, iżda tilfet kontra r-Rumanija 12-11 u l-Greċja 8-4. Madanakollu, fil-logħob tal-klassifikazzjoni, il-Maltin għamlu rimonti eċċezzjonali u għelbu lill-Afrika t’Isfel 16-9, lit-Turkija 8-4 u lill-Iżrael 11-8.

Min-naħa l-oħra Katrina Micallef, li għandha 16-il sena, rebħet midalja tal-bronż storika għal Malta fl- ILCA 4 World Championship, li sar fil-Portugall, bejn it-22 u t-30 ta’ Ġunju.

Micallef spikkat fost il-150 tfajla li rrappreżentaw 45 pajjiż.

L-Olandiżi Hieke Schraffordt u Feline van Ede ddominaw l-ewwel żewġ postijiet rispettivament, segwiti minn Micallef fit-tielet post fuq il-podju. Micallef għaddiet b’63 punt lit-Taljana Clara Lorenzi li kienet ferm ikkwotata f’din il-kompetizzjoni. Dan is-suċċess għal Katrina Micallef ġie wara preparazzjoni kbira matul ix-xitwa, li biha kienet kapaċi tmur tajjeb f’kundizzjonijiet klimatiċi xejn faċli.

Il-preżentazzjoni tal-unuri tal-Atlas Atleta Żagħżugħ/a tax-Xahar saret minn Matthew von Brockdorff Direttur Maniġerjali u CEO ta’ Atlas Insurance, flimkien ma’ Robert Micallef, Chief Commercial Officer. F’isem l-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports kien hemm preżenti l-Amministratur Stephen Azzopardi.

Dan il-premju ta’ kull xahar jingħata b’inizjattiva konġunta bejn l-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports flimkien ma’ Atlas Insurance. Il-panel li jiġġudika r-rebbieħa ta’ dan il-premju jieħu nota tas-suċċessi miksuba lokalment u internazzjonalment matul dak ix-xahar u fl-istess ħin jistieden lill-assoċjazzjonijiet u federazzjonijiet sportivi sabiex jibagħtu n-nomini tagħhom. In-nominazzjonijiet iridu jkunu għal atleti ta’ taħt il-21 sena.

In-nominazzjonijiet għandhom jaslu b’email fuq info@maltasportsjournalists.com. Ir-regolamenti ta’ dan l-unur jinsabu f’dan il-link https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/atlas-youth-athlete-of-the-month-rules-and-regulations/