Team Malta had a very positive start at the COJI Games in Catania on Wednesday, at the COJI games, when the first competitions took place in athletics, table tennis and sailing.  

In the track and field competitions, Team Malta enjoyed a very promising day after winning ten medals at the Stadio Cus di Catania. 

The first Maltese athlete to step on the podium was Karol Spiteri who took a silver medal in Hammer. 

A succession of medals ensued with Sarah Chouhal (400m) and Alessia Cristina (100m) who took home a bronze medal.

Mireya Cassar placed second in the discus and shot put.

Omar El Aida Chaffey took home a silver in the 100m and went one better in the 400 metres when sprinting to a gold medal.

The other gold for Malta was secured by Jacob El Aida Chaffey in the 100m and Maria Zahra in discus.

Malta's best performance on the day arrived in the 100 metres when Jacob El Aiday Chaffey took gold ahead of sibling Oman with Kurt Zahra completed a clean sweep of medals when placing third.

In the table tennis competitions there were good performances from Conrad Puli and James Vella Vidal who won against the strong teams of Martinique and Jersey. 

Despite valiant efforts from Anthea Cutajar and May Zahra, the team for Azores were too strong for the Maltese girls. 

In sailing, Richard Schultheis and Saul Vassallo took part in a total of three races, competing against Corsica, Sicily, Azores and Jersey.

Schultheis took the first win and placed second and third in the other two races whilst Vassallo took a second, fourth and second place.

Currently Schultheis is in first place whilst Vassallo is in third. 

Three more races are scheduled to take place on Thursday.

“Despite some logistical challenges, the morale of the contingent is high and there is a good feeling of camaraderie," Maria Vella Galea, Team Malta's chef de mission said. 

"Naturally the medals brought home by our athletes provided a good morale boost, which we hope will keep the momentum until Saturday when the Games come to an end."