Team Malta kicked off their campaign at the 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe in Andorra in impressive style, collecting a total of 16 medals on the opening day of competition. With five gold, five silver, and six bronze medals, Malta finished the day in fifth place in the overall medal standings.
The gold medal surge began early as Jessica Vella claimed a historic win in Karate Kata—Malta’s first gold of the Games and the first ever in the sport, making its debut at the GSSE. Vella’s victory set the tone for a day of outstanding performances by Maltese athletes.
In the pool, Sasha Gatt delivered a strong finish in the 800m freestyle, edging past Monaco’s Lisa Pou in the final stretch to win gold in a time of 8:49.74. On the track, Gina McNamara surged to victory in the women’s 800m, capping a dominant run with a brilliant final sprint.
Malta’s fourth gold came courtesy of Maria-Carmelia Iacob and Renata Strbikova, who secured a commanding 3-0 win over Cyprus in the women’s doubles table tennis final. Meanwhile, the Maltese women’s gymnastics team added another gold to the tally with a commanding performance in the team event.
Silver medals also flowed in across a variety of disciplines. Jared Micallef ran a strong race in the men’s 800m to secure second place, while Nirvana Micallef narrowly missed out on gold in the 200m butterfly. Jemima Farley claimed silver in the women’s 10km, and Sophie St John impressed in the All-Around gymnastics final. Malta’s mixed 4x400m relay team also earned silver, setting a new national record in the process.
The bronze medal winners showcased the squad’s impressive depth. Janet Richard claimed third in the women’s 800m, and Ibrahim Koska earned bronze in the -84kg karate category. The men’s doubles table tennis team also reached the podium, as did gymnast Philippa Busuttil in the All-Around event. On the track, Thea Parnis Coleiro secured bronze in the 100m sprint, while Beppe Grillo powered to third place in the men’s 100m final.
Success across all disciplines with some slight disappointments in tennis and basketball
In tennis, Elaine Genovese advanced to the women’s singles quarter-finals with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory over Iceland’s Anna Sofia Gronholm. However, there was disappointment in the men’s doubles, as Matthew Asciak and Alex Degabriele were defeated 6-2, 6-4 by Monaco.
3×3 basketball produced mixed results for Malta. The men’s team suffered four close defeats—twice each to Andorra (19-18, 20-18) and Cyprus (21-15, 21-16). Despite their competitive spirit, they fell just short of a breakthrough.
The women’s 3×3 team, however, impressed with three wins from four matches. They opened with a dominant 21-11 win over Cyprus, followed by a 15-11 triumph over Andorra. Despite a 16-10 loss to Luxembourg, they rebounded with an 18-14 victory over Monaco, keeping their medal hopes alive.
As Day One concluded, Malta’s athletes had already made a significant impact, with five golds, five silvers, and six bronzes marking a strong start to the Andorra 2025 Games.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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