Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/503337
21 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 29 APRIL 2015 TRIATHLON TENNIS Increase in international participation for the Garmin 113k triathlon WITH a drive to give a more in- ternational flavour to the race, or- ganisers have received entries from Slovenia, Italy and the United King- dom. The Prize Pool has also been in- creased this year with Cash prizes as well as triathlon clothing and vouchers to be exchanged for out- door products are being given to the top three male and female winners in the Open Category. A finisher's medal will be given to all partici- pants competing in either as an In- dividual or within a Relay Team. In addition to the above, all athletes, taking part in the race will auto- matically take part in a raffle which will see two lucky athletes take one of the two Garmin Vivoactive GPS Smart Watches that Medcomms Ltd, agents for Garmin in Malta, have kindly donated. "We are very excited to see an increase our pool of international athletes, what started off as a small race, amongst friends preparing for an Ironman, it is now taking more of an international feel," said Charles Demanuele, Malta's only Double Ironman athlete and Race Organ- iser. "Each year we seek to improve on the overall race experience and this is possible also through the as- sistance that we get from our spon- sors and volunteers who year after year show their support towards this race." The race will take place on Sunday 17th May and will start at 8am. The Race hub will be situated Al Fresco Restaurant and the distances cov- ered will be a 19km swim held in St. George's Bay, B'Bugia, a 90km cycle which will see athletes cycle up Hal Far road with a turnaround point near the MIA VIP entrance and back. A 21km run will take pace along the B'Bugia seafront. The general public is urged to sup- port this event by exercising caution on the locations mentioned above. The Garmin Malta 113k Triath- lon has also been designated as the National Long Distance Champi- onships by the Malta Triathlon Federation and is supported by Garmin (represented in Malta by Medcomms Ltd), The Cyclist, Ecco, Mochika, Urban Jungle, Al Fresco Restaurant, Leap Nutrition , Go & Fun, the Malta Tourism Authority and emvigee pr& marketing. Race Registrations will be accept- ed until Monday 11th May. More information on the Garmin Malta 113k Triathlon visit www.mal- ta113ktri.com, like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/113ktri or send us an email on info@mal- ta113ktri.com. With less than a month to go and registration still open, the amount of registered athletes has so far exceeded expectations and previous years' numbers Matthew Asciak, Elaine Genovese champions of MSV Life Marsa open AFTER an absence of three years from the local calendar, the Marsa Open Tennis tournament was held recently thanks to MSV Life who signed an agreement to sponsor the tournament with Marsa Sports Club for three years. Matthew Asciak and Elaine Gen- ovese dominated the Men's and La- dies Singles title. The 24-year-old Asciak overcame Ben Farrugia 6-0 6-0, Raphael Sammut 6-1 6-1, and in the semi-final Asciak beat Mat- thew Cassar Torregiani 6-0 6-0. In the final, Asciak, the Malta Open champion for the past 10 years, prevailed Bernard Cassar Torre- giani 6-2 6-1. On the way to the final, Cassar Torregiani defeated Miguel Galea 6-1 6-1, Denzil Aguis 6-3 6-1. In the semi-final, Cassar Torregiani had the better of Bradley Callus 6-3 6-1. The Mens Singles final was of a very high level and 18-year-old Cassar Torregiani put up a very good show and the numerous crowd present appreciated the excellent perform- ance by both players. Elaine Genovese dominated the Ladies Singles Final overpowering her 11-year-old opponent in the final, Alina Shcherbinina, from Russia. Shcherbinina, who has been training at the Gordon As- ciak Tennis School for the past 4 years, impressed one and all and was definitely the surprise of this year's edition. Genovese, 24, beat Georgina Farrugia Sacco 6-0 6-0 in the semi-final, while in the other semi-final Shcherbinina shook the tournament when she beat Malta's no 2 player Katrina Sammut 6/4 7/5. Shcherbinina trailed 4-1 in the first set but her different array of strokes and the ability to change the game at the right time enabled her to un- settle Sammut to eventually win in 2 sets. In the final, Alina faced Genovese, Malta's top player. It was obvious that Genovese would overpower Shcherbinina, but the young, sturdy Russian still managed to put her older opponent under pressure at times and managed to win 3 games. Final score Genovese beat Shcher- binina 6/1 6/2. Asciak underlined his status as the country's leading playing by making it a double victory winning the Men's Doubles Final with Brad- ley Callus. Asciak/Callus dominat- ed the tournament, disposing of B. Cassar Torregiani/M. Cassar Tor- regiani 6-2 6-1. Asciak/Callus de- feated Miguel Galea/Nicky Sullivan 6-1 6-1. In the Final, Asciak/Callus outclassed Mark Gatt/Denzil Aguis 6-0 6-1 in a one-sided final. The presentation of the MSV Life Marsa Open was held on court No. 1 after the last match. Attending the presentation was Norman Mif- sud representing MSV Life, Chair- man of the Marsa Sports Club ten- nis section Godwin Borg and David Farrugia Sacco, President of the Malta Tennis Federation.