National table tennis champion Gabriel Grixti has expressed deep disappointment and frustration following his exclusion from Malta’s squad for the upcoming Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) 2025, set to take place in Andorra. Despite holding the title of current Maltese National Senior Champion, Grixti was left out of the selected team announced by the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC).
The Maltese Herald covered a similar story about the The Games of the Small States of Europe in 2023, which were held in Malta with much pomp. Malta’s table tennis squad was full of direct imports that had absolutely no connection with Malta. This was obviously done to artificially inflate our medal haul.
In a strongly-worded statement, Grixti outlined his dedication to the sport, balancing intense training with his fifth year of medical studies. “I have consistently dedicated over 18 hours a week to my sport — on the table, in the gym, on the track, and in mental preparation,” he said. “All for one goal: to represent Malta with pride on the international stage.”
Over the past four years, Grixti has claimed three National Senior Singles titles (2021/22, 2022/23, 2024/25), a National Doubles title this season, and has been a key figure in leading his club to seven consecutive Maltese Premier League victories. His exclusion, he argues, flies in the face of merit and dedication.
Only 1 person out of the six is Maltese born
The table tennis team named by the MOC includes:
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Maria-Carmelia Iacob
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Viktoria Lucenkova
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Dmitrij Prokopcov
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Renata Strbikova
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Felix Wetzel
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Daniel Bajada
Grixti points out that only one of the six athletes selected is Maltese-born. He raises concerns over the reappearance of naturalised athletes who were granted Maltese citizenship ahead of the 2023 GSSE — a controversial move designed to boost Malta’s medal chances. Grixti claims these players were only briefly integrated before vanishing from the local scene, only to return ahead of the next major event.
“These players trained with us briefly in 2022, reappeared before the 2023 Games, and disappeared for two whole years. Now, they’re back — not to represent Malta out of passion or pride, but for pay,” Grixti alleged.
He also criticised the MOC’s lack of transparency around selection criteria, arguing that while official guidelines were published in December 2024, they were inconsistently applied. “Why has the current national champion, who has done everything right, been left out? Was the criteria used the same for everyone?” he asked. “This is not just about me. This is about fairness and accountability.”
Grixti lamented that taxpayer money is being allocated to support athletes who, in his view, have made minimal contribution to Malta’s sporting community, while dedicated local athletes are sidelined.
“I have always been proud to wear Malta’s colours. But today, I feel abandoned by the very institutions that should be protecting athletes and the sport,” he concluded.
Malta Olympic Committee replies
In a long winded reply, the Malta Olympic Committee refuted the claims made by Grixti.
The MOC clarified that:
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Grixti emailed the MOC on May 9th, and the committee responded promptly. Before waiting for a follow-up reply, Grixti went public with his complaints, giving the impression of being ignored.
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The inclusion of foreign-born athletes stems from a development plan initiated in 2022, intended to raise local playing standards. Due to administrative failures within the Malta Table Tennis Association (MTTA), the MOC intervened to stabilise the sport and maintain Malta’s competitiveness.
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Grixti himself has benefitted from MOC-funded opportunities, including international training camps and travel reimbursements.
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Selection criteria for GSSE 2025 considered more than national titles — factors like training attendance, skill level, fitness, competition experience abroad, and commitment were weighed.
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Grixti attended only two national squad sessions since March 2025.
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He participated in just one of two local ranking tournaments this season.
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He declined invitations to compete abroad for evaluation purposes.
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The MOC stressed that while they understand Grixti’s university commitments, selection decisions must prioritise athletes who consistently engage in both training and competition.
The committee rejected claims of discrimination, defending the contributions of the selected players, who — despite being naturalised — have supported Maltese table tennis through coaching, training camps, and long-term involvement.
The MOC also criticised Grixti for allegedly creating division by publicly disparaging teammates and reminded him that he left the GSSE 2023 squad midway to focus on studies instead of supporting his team.
Ultimately, the MOC concluded that the selection was made to field Malta’s best possible team and that the matter is now considered closed.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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