Updated 7.38pm

Malta enjoyed a gold rush on the second day of the Small Nations Games on Tuesday, winning nine gold medals, exceeding the six gold medals tally won in the last games in 2019.

The best result ever achieved in the games by Malta was in the 2003 edition when athletes brought home a total of 44 medals – 11 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze.

Katryna Esposito was the first Maltese athlete to see gold on Tuesday, emerging triumphant in the Judo -48kg category. She was followed by Jared Micallef and Gina Mcnamara in the 800 metres sprint events. Peppijna Dalli made it four in the women's pole vault and Claire Azzopardi added the fifth in the long jump. More gold followed, for Colette Sultana in Squash after facing off her sister.

Jordan Gusman won the 10,000m race. This was his second gold in 10,000m in GSSE after he also won in Montenegro in 2019. Likewise, Lisa Marie Bezzina won the women's 10,000 metres, also securing her second successive gold after Montenegro 2019.

Capping the brilliant day for Malta was gold in the 4x100m free swimming, a first for Malta in swimming for 18 years. The Malta team was composed of Matthew Galea Rahul Starface, Rudi Spiteri and Kyle Micallef.

Determined judoka

Competing at her second GSSE, Esposito was determined to go all the way this time around and the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist started strongly when she overpowered team-mate Kirsty Cauchi in the opening bout.

Esposito had two Cypriot judokas standing in her way to a gold medal – Marina Kyprianou and Veronika Kalaitsidou. First up for Esposito was Kyprianou and the Maltese judo looked focused right from the outset and her aggressive approach was too much for the Cypriot who was forced to submit with Esposito handing the win by an Ippon.

Katryna Esposito (wearing blue) in action against a Cypriot judika.

Kalaitsidou was up next and Esposito had a much tougher fight on her hand as the Cyprus judoka tried to withstand the Maltese judoka’s attacks. But as time passed Esposito grew in stature and Kalaitsidou was penalised three times to lose the bout on hansoku make, to the delight of the home crowd.

Success in Squash

Meanwhile, squash siblings Lijana Sultana and Colette Sultana assured Team Malta of a gold medal in the ladies singles, after storming into Tuesday afternoon’s final at the Marsa Sports Club. Colette eventually won the gold. 

Earlier Colette outclassed Cypriot player Vasa Karasava Hambides in straight-sets 11-2,11-4.

In the next match of the day, Lijana Sultana faced Luxembourg’s Sandra Denis, who had denied Malta’s Johanna Rizzo earlier on Monday.

Denis made good use of her experience to give Lijana Sultana the hardest of times, and the first game was the perfect example:  despite a comeback to 8-8, Denis took the first game 11-8.

Lijana Sultana made amends in the second game to level proceedings, 11-5. A tense finale saw both players go from strength to strength, but Lijana Sultana prevailed after three tie breaks 14-12, to face her sister in the final.

Gina Mcnamara smiles as she wins her gold medal.

Meanwhile, in athletics, Malta won gold in the 800 metres events thanks to Jared Micallef and Gina Mcnamara while another Maltese, Clare McNamara, won bronze.

But there was more gold for Malta as Peppijna Dalli won in the women's pole vault and Claire Azzopardi gold in the long jump.

For more details on Team Malta's quest for medals follow our blog on www.sportsdesk.com.mt