Team Malta enjoyed another encouraging day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, highlighted by Philippa Busuttil’s qualification for the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around final and an impressive victory for lawn bowler Shaun Parnis over one of the sport’s most accomplished players.
Busuttil books place in all-around final
Malta’s artistic gymnastics team, made up of Philippa Busuttil, Lyana Curmi Inguanez and Sophie St John, delivered a strong collective performance in the women’s team and individual qualification competition.
The trio finished with a combined score of 130.750, placing Malta eighth overall, ahead of India, Namibia, Malaysia and New Zealand.
Busuttil was Malta’s standout performer, producing a consistent display across all apparatus to finish second overall in her subdivision with a score of 45.900.
Her finest routine came on the balance beam, where a composed and confident performance earned the highest beam score of the session and secured her place in Sunday’s all-around final.
Sophie St John also impressed, particularly on the vault, while her balance beam routine featured one of the standout sequences of the competition. Despite a couple of untidy landings on the floor exercise, she finished with a solid total of 44.550.
Lyana Curmi Inguanez scored 40.300 and celebrated a personal milestone after successfully performing a new vault skill in international competition for the first time.
Mixed fortunes in lawn bowls
Malta’s women’s pairs team of Connie and Rebecca Rixon suffered a 2-0 defeat to England’s Amy Pharaoh and Sian Honnor in their third Section B match.
The opening set was closely contested, with the Maltese sisters leading 2-0 midway through before England edged the contest 3-2 on the final end.
England took control in the second set, winning 8-2 after capitalising on several key moments, including a decisive drive by Honnor that turned the match firmly in her side’s favour.
There was better news in the men’s singles, where Shaun Parnis produced one of the finest victories of his career by defeating Canada’s Ryan Bester in straight sets, 8-5, 7-4.
Bester, one of the most decorated players in international lawn bowls, struggled to break down Parnis’ outstanding draw bowling and tactical discipline. The Maltese bowler remained composed throughout, successfully countering the Canadian’s aggressive approach to secure an impressive straight-sets victory.
Busy Sunday ahead
Team Malta faces another packed programme on Sunday.
Connie and Rebecca Rixon will continue their women’s pairs campaign with matches against Tonga in the morning and South Africa later in the day, while Shaun Parnis takes on India’s Putul Sonowal in the men’s singles.
Attention will also turn to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in the evening, where Philippa Busuttil will compete in the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around final as she looks to build on an outstanding qualification performance.
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