Skeet pair hit poor form

Paul Vella and Joe Genovese were in action yesterday in the Skeet Pairs event in Bisley. The Maltese shooters managed a total of 171 hits to place 11th out of 13 teams.

Without doubt, it was a below average performance from both Vella and Genovese who will be hoping for a better outcome in the singles event, scheduled for the penultimate day of the Commonwealth Games.

The Skeet Pairs was won by Cypriot duo Antonis Nicolaides and Christos Kourtellas who smashed 194 clays, six more than second-placed George Barton and David Cunningham of Australia.

The Cypriots lived up to their billing as the team to beat as even the might of Australia and England was not enough to topple the hot favourites. The hosts had to settle for the bronze medal with the same number of hits as Australia. The latter won the shoot-off.

Today, five Maltese athletes will be in action at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Rashid Chouhal will be hoping for a good show in the long jump event which will be held in the morning.

He had to withdraw his participation from the 100m due to injury last week. The 27-year-old athlete is hoping to surpass the 7.65m mark to set up a personal best and improve his own national record established only a few weeks ago.

Following a good sixth placing in the Trap Pairs, Joe Attard and Nicky Carabott will once again take to the shooting range in Bisley, this time for the Trap singles event.

A strong field comprising 36 shooters will be vying for the medals including Adam Vella who teamed up with Michael Diamond to win gold for Australia in the Pairs.

Swimmers Angela Galea and Roberta Callus will also be in action.

Galea will be competing in the 50m butterfly whereas Callus will be swimming in Heat Two of the 200m freestyle this morning.

Meanwhile, the wrestling contingent will arrive in Manchester today.

Veteran Jesmond Giordmaina is making a comeback for Malta and will compete in the 60kg category.

Abraham Vassallo will be competing in the 84kg category. Official Alfred Ellul Mercer is heading the wrestling contingent.