Maltese Players with positive results across Italian Serie A and Serie B

This past weekend, nine players from the Badminton Malta Academy traveled to Italy to compete in the national badminton leagues (CIS 2026). Playing across Serie A and Serie B, the Maltese players secured a good number of individual match victories for their respective clubs.

Here is a breakdown of the matches won by the Academy players this weekend.

Serie A: Le Saette

Samuel Cassar and Gabriela Skorkowska represented Le Saette in Italy’s top division, securing critical points across their ties against Brescia Sport Piu’, SC Meran, and Pol Di Nova.

Samuel Cassar

• Men’s Singles vs. Brescia Sport Piu’: Won in three games against Nicolo’ Volpi (15-7, 16-18, 15-5).
• Men’s Singles vs. SC Meran: Won in straight sets against Karl Ladurner (15-8, 10-15, 15-6).
• Men’s Doubles vs. SC Meran: Won in a tight three-setter alongside Manuel Scafuri against Pirmin Klotzner and Yoerg Stanzel.
• Mixed Doubles vs. Pol Di Nova: Won in straight sets alongside Gabriela Skorkowska against Alessandro Gozzini and Emma Barbosa (18-16, 15-10).

Gabriela Skorkowska

• Women’s Singles vs. SC Meran: Secured a commanding straight-sets victory against Hannah Mair (15-8, 15-7).
• Mixed Doubles vs. Pol Di Nova: Teamed up with Cassar for a straight-sets win (18-16, 15-10).

Serie B: BC Catania

BC Catania fielded a strong Maltese lineup featuring Matthew Abela, Samuel Cali’, Jeremy Mark Gatt, Francesca Clark, and Martina Clark. The squad was dominant across their fixtures against Lario BC, Acqui Badminton, Badminton Messina, and Le Racchette.

Samuel Cali’ was the busiest player on the Catania roster, securing five separate victories across three different disciplines:

• Men’s Singles vs. Badminton Messina: Won against Ravedu Jayasundara in two games.
• Men’s Doubles vs. Lario BC: Won alongside Matthew Abela (15-7, 15-12) against Liam Pelizzari and Tommaso Trezza.
• Mixed Doubles vs. Lario BC: Won alongside Francesca Clark (15-9, 15-8) against Andrea Saverio and Veronica Carella
• Men’s Doubles vs. Le Racchette: Won alongside Jeremy Mark Gatt (21-20, 15-8) against Matthew Galea and Gabriele Santangelo.
• Men’s Doubles vs. Acqui Badminton: Won alongside Matthew Abela (15-12, 9-15, 15-12) against Andrea Di Liberto and Matteo Suardi.

Martina Clark also remained undefeated, winning her four matches:

• Women’s Singles vs. Badminton Messina: Won (15-9, 15-6) against Mirella Militello
• Women’s Doubles vs. Badminton Messina: Won alongside Michelle Alercia (18-16, 15-8) against Mirella Militello and Marianna Viola.
• Women’s Doubles vs. Le Racchette: Won alongside Michelle Alercia (15-17, 15-11, 15-10) against Elenia Haber and Giulia Pappalardo
• Mixed Doubles vs. Le Racchette: Won alongside Jeremy Mark Gatt (16-14, 15-8) against Matthew Galea and Giulia Pappalardo

Francesca Clark drove Catania forward with three vital doubles wins:

• Women’s Doubles vs. Lario BC: Won alongside Michelle Alercia (15-13, 15-4) against Linda Bernasconi and Veronica Carella
• Women’s Doubles vs. Acqui Badminton: Won alongside Michelle Alercia (15-4, 15-12) against Irene Bobbio and Silvia Garino
• Mixed Doubles vs. Lario BC: Won alongside Samuel Cali’ (15-9, 15-8) against Andrea Saverio and Veronica Carella.

Jeremy Mark Gatt  secured three solid doubles victories for the team:

• Men’s Doubles vs. Badminton Messina: Won alongside Salvatore Samperi (15-8, 15-10) against Thejan Demuni and Alessio Gennaro
• Men’s Doubles vs. Le Racchette: Won alongside Samuel Cali’ (21-20, 15-8) against Matthew Galea and Gabriele Santangelo
• Mixed Doubles vs. Le Racchette: Won alongside Martina Clark (16-14, 15-8) against Matthew Galea and Giulia Pappalardo

Serie B: Le Racchette

Elenia Haber and Matthew Galea put in massive shifts for Le Racchette, grinding through heavy schedules and securing multiple victories on the road and at home against Arena Badminton Team, Junior BC Milano, Badminton Messina, and BC Catania.

Elenia Haber had an outstanding individual weekend, playing eight matches and securing an impressive seven victories across her singles and doubles ties:

• Women’s Singles vs. Arena Badminton Team: Won (15-7, 12-15, 15-8) against Maria Lara De March
• Women’s Singles vs. Junior BC Milano: Won (15-10, 15-6) against Clara Fredholm
• Women’s Singles vs. BC Catania: Won against Michelle Alercia (14-16, 15-4, 15-9).
• Women’s Singles vs. Badminton Messina: Won (15-5, 15-4) against Mirella Militello
• Women’s Doubles vs. Arena Badminton Team: Won alongside Giulia Rosa Pappalardo (15-11, 15-7) against Maria Lara De March and Mayla Sardo
• Women’s Doubles vs. Junior BC Milano: Won alongside Pappalardo (7-15, 15-8, 15-7) against Yi Yuan and Clara Fredholm.
• Women’s Doubles vs. Badminton Messina: Won alongside Pappalardo (20-18, 15-12) against Mirella Militello and Marianna Viola

Matthew Galea secured three hard-fought wins for Le Racchette:

• Men’s Doubles vs. Arena Badminton Team: Won alongside Gabriele Pietro Santangelo (15-12, 12-15, 15-8) against Hemitha Kotagedara and Marco Polito
• Men’s Doubles vs. Badminton Messina: Won alongside Santangelo (15-7, 15-9) against Thejan Adithya and Alessio Gennaro
• Mixed Doubles vs. Arena Badminton Team: Won alongside Giulia Rosa Pappalardo (13-15, 15-5, 15-7) against Marco Polito and Mayla Sardo

Competing in the Italian leagues provides Badminton Malta Academy players with consistent international match experience and competitive court time within the Serie A and Serie B structures. A big well done to all players!