The BOV Under-23 National Championships took place earlier this November at the Superbowl, bringing together Malta’s top youth bowlers for an exciting showdown. The event featured 24 games played over two consecutive weekends, with the highest overall pinfall determining the champions.

In the girls’ division, Ruslana Grima held a narrow lead over Charlize Bartolo during the first 12 games. However, Charlize struggled in the second block of 12 games, opening the door for Celianne Micallef to surge ahead and claim second place by just 31 pins (3677–3636). Ruslana, meanwhile, remained dominant throughout, extending her lead to over 300 pins and securing the title comfortably.

The boys’ category delivered thrilling performances from start to finish. From the outset, it was clear the title would be contested by Kayden Laganà, Nicolai Mallia, and Nicholas Muscat. Nicolai led after Day 1, but Kayden overtook him on Day 3, only to slip back into second place by 81 pins after Day 3. Nicholas stayed close behind, ready to capitalize on any mistakes. Day 4 brought a nail-biting finish, with Kayden edging past Nicolai by 42 pins (5526–5484) to claim the championship. Nicholas finished third, about 200 pins behind the leaders.

The first 12 games also counted towards the Under-16 Boys Championship, contested by seven players. National Champion and recent Platinum Cup winner Nicolai Mallia continued his stellar year, posting a 2650 total over 12 games (220.8 average) to win decisively. Second place was hotly contested, with Samuel Caruso narrowly beating Mikhail Mallia by 41 pins (2271–2236).

The trophies for the BOV Under-23 National Championships were presented by Stefan Abela, Manager CSR at Bank of Valletta, and Edward Mifsud, President of the Malta Bowling Association, during a special ceremony that celebrated the exceptional performances of Malta’s rising bowling stars.

Bank of Valletta takes pride in supporting bowling and other sporting disciplines as part of its long-standing commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting active lifestyles within the community. Through initiatives like the BOV Under-23 Championships, the Bank continues to invest in youth development and the growth of sports in Malta, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in building a stronger sporting culture.