Matthew Abela

Career Abela started playing badminton when he was 5 years old. His father, a Badminton coach, would bring him along to training sessions. He trained at the Paola badminton club, and entered the Maltese national team foe the first time in 2011. He won his first U19 national junior title in 2011, and by the end of 2019 had collected eleven U19 national junior titles. He made his international debut in the junior level tournaments in 2013, and to improve and with the intention to improve his game to become a better badminton player, he joined Badminton Europe's Centre of Excellence, based in Holbæk, Denmark, in September 2017. In doing so, Abela became the first badminton player to ever represent Malta at the Olympics.

He competed for Malta at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England playing doubles alongside Sam Cassar.

Competing at the South Africa International in 2024, he won gold in the Men’s Doubles together with his doubles partner Maxim Grinblat, defeating Dorian James and Robert Summers in three sets in the final.

Personal life Abela is a fan of Liverpool F.C. and has stated his favourite ever player is Steven Gerrard.

Achievements BWF International Challenge/Series (3 titles, 3 runners-up) Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 2026 Bolivia International Leo Lee 21–9, 15–21, 21–16 Winner

Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2023 Kampala International Maxim Grinblat Brian Kasirye Muzafaru Lubega 15–21, 14–21 Runner-up 2023 Uganda International Maxim Grinblat Brian Kasirye Muzafaru Lubega Walkover Runner-up 2024 Botswana International Maxim Grinblat Agil Gabilov Dicky Dwi Pangestu 8–21, 15–21 Runner-up 2024 South Africa International Maxim Grinblat Dorian James Robert Summers 10–21, 21–19, 22–20 Winner

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 2026 Bolivia International Gabriela Skorkowska Gabriel Danilo Rosales Medina Juanita Siviora 21–16, 21–18 Winner BWF International Challenge tournament BWF International Series tournament BWF Future Series tournament