Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/754383
22 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2016 Sport WATER POLO TENNIS FORMULA 1 Bank of Valletta extends support to ASA through 2019 Youth development in the spotlight BANK of Valletta and the Aquat- ic Sports Association of Malta announced a three-year collabo- ration agreement that will see Bank of Valletta supporting all senior water polo competitions in Malta until 2019. The novelty in this agreement is the focus on youth development in this sport discipline. This was announced by Mario Mallia, CEO at Bank of Valletta during a press conference ad- dressed by ASA President Joe Caruana Curran. "The 2017 water polo season marks the tenth year of Bank of Valletta's collaboration with the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta. During this period, we have enjoyed a very close and successful co-operation," said Mr Mallia. "Sports features as a main pillar of Bank of Valletta's Community Programme be- cause we recognise and value the role of sport for the physical and mental well-being of the individ- ual and the community at large." In relation to the Youth De- velopment aspect, Mr Mallia explained, "Last week, the Bank announced its collaboration with SportMalta towards the Youth Development Scheme. Our col- laboration with the ASA in this respect ties in neatly, and en- hances the Bank's commitment to sustain young athletes who are working hard in their respective discipline." "We are delighted that Bank of Valletta specifically request- ed that part of its sponsorship is allocated towards the young generation of players," said Joe Caruana Curran. "This ref lects the Bank's long term vision for the sport, which has contributed to our historic qualification to the European Championships last year." Murray rules out knighthood ANDY Murray says he is too young for a knighthood after fin- ishing the year as world No 1. The 29-year-old defeated ri- val Novak Djokovic at the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Are- na on Sunday to cap off the finest year of his career. It was a fitting finale to a bril- liant season which saw him win a second Wimbledon crown, be- come the first man to win suc- cessive Olympic gold medals and end the year with 24 victories on the bounce, which was enough for him to overhaul Djokovic at the summit of the game. Murray already has an OBE to his name, awarded after his maiden Wimbledon title in 2013, but there have been calls for a knighthood in the New Year's Honours list - something the Scot thinks he may be too young for. "It's the highest honour you can get in this country," Murray said. "But I don't know, I feel like too young for something like that. "I don't think about that stuff much, really. When I win any award or am presented with any- thing it is nice because it is rec- ognition for what you have given your life to, up to now anyway. "However, I'm still young and there are still a lot of things that can go wrong, I could still mess up and make mistakes - do stuff. I'm just trying to keep doing what I am doing, working hard, and achieving things." Murray toppled Djokovic from the top of the rankings a fort- night ago and he had to outper- form the Serb in London to keep his No 1 ranking through the winter months. Andy Murray Hamilton wary of 'pretty impossible odds' LEWIS Hamilton has accepted that he faces "pretty impossible odds" to retain his Formula 1 title as he prepares to battle Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg for the championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton trailed Rosberg by 43 points after the opening five races, but overturned the deficit to lead by 19 points heading into the summer break. Rosberg surged ahead once more as the season resumed, and led by 33 points after Japan, though Hamilton responded by winning the following three races. Despite Hamilton's success, Rosberg holds a 12-point lead through virtue of finishing run- ner-up across recent rounds, and Hamilton is wary of the task he faces. "It's not been a perfect season and I'm faced with pretty impos- sible odds no matter what I do this weekend," Hamilton com- mented. "But I can't and won't give up. You never know what might hap- pen – however unlikely it may seem. "I'll be proud of myself and what I've achieved as long as I feel I've given my all and performed at my best. "And, whatever happens, I'm proud of everyone who's been a part of the success we've shared over the past few years. "I'm approaching this weekend the same as I do every race. I want to win and I'll give it everything to finish the season on a high." Hamilton finished second to Rosberg in Abu Dhabi last season. Lewis Hamilton