During the last week of December 2022, the Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association announced that once again it will be jointly organising with SportMalta the 63rd edition of the SportMalta Awards l-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali. This announcement officially opened the nominations process for the 2023 edition, which will be held on the 25th of February 2023.
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 of the Year, Male and Female Youth of the Year, Coach of the Year, Official of the Year, and Team of the Year.
The deadline for the submission of the nominations was the 16th of January 2023 and all submitted nominations were scrutinised by the Organising Committee before being eventually shortlisted to formulate the following semi-finalists' list:
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
- Anastasi Mauro (Ten Pin Bowling)
- Bezzina Isaac (Judo)
- Calleja Cliferty (Horse Racing)
- Farrugia Kurt (Paralympics)
- Galea Keith (Triathlon)
- Galea Luke (Karate)
- Giordimaina Gary (Lotta)
- Grech Dejan (Eight Ball Pool)
- Tanti Jake (Water Polo)
- Zammit Jeremy (Athletics Long Jump)
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
- Borg Ella (Gymnastics)
- Cassar Selma (Jiu-Jitsu)
- Clark Francesca (Badminton)
- Curmi Francesca (Tennis)
- Esposito Katryna (Judo)
- Richard Janet (Athletics)
- Scerri Michela (Taekwondo)
- Sultana Colette (Squash)
- Swift Melissa (Ten Pin Bowling)
- Thornton Tenishia (Weightlifting)
MALE YOUTH OF THE YEAR
- Azzopardi Kai (Triathlon) – 16 years
- Bonello Luke (Table Tennis) – 15 years
- Borg Rylee (Weightlifting) – 16 years
- Bugeja Ryan (Shooting) – 17 years
- Castaldi Chaylon (Blackball) – 15 years
- Degabriele Alex (Tennis) – 17 years
- Fenech Alec (Water Polo) – 17 years
- Galea Soler Matthew (Athletics) – 16 years
- Mercieca Nick (Paralympics) – 16 years
- Muscat Nicholas (Ten Pin Bowling) – 17 years
FEMALE YOUTH OF THE YEAR
- Busuttil Philippa (Gymnastics) – 14 years
- Calleja Jessica (Go Karting) – 10 years
- Camilleri Lagana Kim (Weightlifting) – 14 years
- Gatt Sascha (Swimming) – 17 years
- Montebello Emma (Tennis) – 13 years
- Montfort Zea (Artistic Swimming) – 17 years
- Parnis Coleiro Thea (Athletics) – 14 years
- Sultana Lijana (Squash) – 16 years
- Thornton Tenishia (Weightlifting) – 17 years
- Vella Jessica (Karate) – 16 years
COACH OF THE YEAR
- Bajada Melania (Football)
- Berehova Nataliya (Gymnastics)
- Bonello Mario (Athletics)
- Caruana Jesmond (Weightlifting)
- Farrugia Anthony (Water Polo)
- Farrugia Juan (Paralympics)
- Izzo Karl (Waterpolo)
- Micallef Clevion (Blackball)
- Neill Damian (Rugby)
- Spiteri Mark (Ten Pin Bowling)
OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
- Balzan Peter (Water Polo)
- Camilleri Terry (Snooker)
- Cassar Joanna (Badminton)
- Gatt Philip (Blackball)
- Grima Alan (Handball)
- Muscat Warren (Triathlon)
- Spiteri Ronnie (Water Polo)
- Vassallo Abraham (Lotta)
- Vassallo Anna (Taekwondo)
- Xerri Rhona (Rugby)
TEAM OF THE YEAR
- 8-Ball Pool – U/25 National Team
- Athletics – Women Relay Team
- Basketball – Senior Men National Team
- Blackball – Men Doubles Team
- Football – Hamrun Spartans
- Horse Racing – Mediterranean Black Sea Championship Team
- Sailing – World Junior Championship Girls’ Team
- Tennis – Women Doubles Team
- Water Polo – National Senior Men’s Team
- Water Polo – U/16 Boys’ National Team
Active sports journalists who are members of the Malta Sports Journalists Association will be voting to determine the five finalists in each category, from which the winner will be announced during the awards night.
Further information can be accessed through this link: https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/sportmalta-awards-ghazliet-sportivi-nazzjonali-rules-regulations-regolamenti/
