Matthew Abela Explained

Matthew Abela
Country:Malta
Birth Date:1999 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Pietà, Malta[1]
Height:1.71 m
Handedness:Right
Event:Men's singles & doubles
Highest Ranking:251
Date Of Highest Ranking:MS 5 February 2019
Current Ranking:321
Date Of Current Ranking:MS 8 June 2021
Bwf Id:3E591886-34A8-4891-AFF6-0831B5B6444C

Matthew Abela (born 18 March 1999) is a Maltese badminton player affiliated with Paola badminton club. He competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Men's singles.[2]

He is seven times Maltese National champion.

Career

Abela started playing badminton when he was 5 years old and his father, who is a coach, used to bring him to training sessions.[3] He trained at the Paola badminton club, and entered the Maltese national team since 2011. He won his first U19 national junior title in 2011, and until 2019, he has collected eleven U19 national junior titles.[1] [4] He made his international debut in the junior tournament in 2013, and to improve and reach his future goals to become a better badminton player, he joining Badminton Europe's Centre of Excellence based in Holbæk, Denmark in September 2017.[1] [3]

Abela won six men's singles title and one mixed doubles title at the Maltese National Championships.[4] With participation at 2020 Tokyo Olympics confirmed,[5] Abela has also been confirmed as the first badminton player to ever represent Malta at the Olympics.[6]

Personal life

Abela is a fan of Liverpool F.C. and has stated his favourite ever player is Steven Gerrard.[7]

Achievements

BWF International Challenge/Series (2 runners-up)

Men's doubles

YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
2023Kampala International Maxim Grinblat Brian Kasirye
Muzafaru Lubega
15–21, 14–21 Runner-up
2023Uganda International Maxim Grinblat Brian Kasirye
Muzafaru Lubega
Walkover Runner-up

BWF International Challenge tournament

BWF International Series tournament

BWF Future Series tournament

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matthew Abela . development.badmintoneurope.com . 12 June 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814173435/http://development.badmintoneurope.com/cms/?&pageid=25212 . 14 August 2019.
  2. Web site: Badminton - ABELA Matthew. dead. 2021-09-05. Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. en-us. 3 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210903101847/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/badminton/athlete-profile-n1284065-abela-matthew.htm.
  3. Web site: Lollike . Emma . Matthew Abela joins the Centre of Excellence . www.badmintoneurope.com . 10 August 2017 . 12 June 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181213182145/http://www.badmintoneurope.com/cms/default.aspx?clubid=4685&cmsid=239&pageid=5381&m=4908560 . 13 December 2018.
  4. Web site: Badminton Malta . badmintonpeople.com . 12 June 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612025422/http://badmintonpeople.com/Clubs/CommonDrive/Components/GetWWWFile.aspx?fileID=87213 . 12 June 2021.
  5. Web site: ABELA Matthew . . 3 September 2021.
  6. Web site: Muscat . Michela . Matthew Abela Will Be The First Badminton Player To Represent Malta At The Summer Olympics . bay.com.mt . 4 June 2021 . 9 June 2021.
  7. Web site: Sommer . Emilie . Get to know Matthew Abela . badmintoneurope.com . 19 March 2020 . 9 June 2021.