#17: Gold, Silver And Bronze. Malta Places Again In Swedish G1
Another international venture for Malta’s taekwondo team ends with a pleasant reward after three medals - including one gold - were added to the good.
Cadet athletes Michela Scerri (ITL), Nathan Degiorgio (DAM) and Alycia Cassar (ITL) attended the Swedish Open (G1) on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of November.
A fourth athlete - Mamadou Balde (ITL) - also joined the contingent as a Refugee Team athlete. Coach Ditmir Vodinaj (ITL) led the team together with Anna Vassallo (MTA President) and Joanna Scicluna (MTA Secretary General).
Michela Scerri (Cadet F -41kg) was the Number 1 seed in her category. Her rank shot her right into the semi-final of the tournament, where she was made to face the winner of a quarter-final round contested by two Korean nationals.
Eventually, she fought Minji Kim (KOR) who won the initial contest. Scerri lost with a close margin to the Korean, who proceeded to win the entire group against high-ranked athletes Skye Taylor (GBR) and Adelia Plaipetch-unes (NOR).
Michela walked away with a bronze medal.
Next was Nathan (cadet -49kg), who bested Swede Charlie Nilsson in the quarter final round with a score of 2:0. He then faced Emilijus Stoncelis (LTU), who was ranked second in the group. Nathan fought well and won again with a round score of 2:1.
In the final, he faced German athlete Lars-Lucas LIIU: the Number 1 seed. Despite a superb effort, the score went against the Maltese. Nevertheless, Nathan was able to claim a silver medal for him and Malta.
Alycia Cassar (Cadet, -55kg) drew American Emilia Przetocki in the quarter-final and won the match with a very convincing performance. She then faced the Number 1 seed: Anna Gruber (ITA).
Alycia fought hard against the Italian and claimed a second win in the semi-final with a round score of 2:0. In the final, she met Sooyeon Park of the Korean national team.
The match kept spectators enthralled as both athletes claimed one round apiece. Come third, Aly clinched the win with a successful defense of a mid-round lead.
Her win over Park meant she was able to walk away with a Gold.
Malta’s fourth athlete - Mamadou Balde - fought the next day in the Senior -80kg division. A hotly contested group filled with renowned athletes. None more so than the Olympic and World Champion Simone Alessio (ITA).
Balde drew Paraguayan Alejandro Gonzalez in the round-of-eight. Despite a remarkable showing, Gonzalez won with a round score of 2:0 and advanced to the next rounds.
All credit to Mamadou, who fought in his first ranked competition this year and second overall. Admittedly, there are no easy matches at this stage and this experience served as a good learning experience for the young athlete.
This venture concludes another remarkable showing for Maltese athletes abroad. Hats off to the players and coach Ditmir as well as Anna Vassallo and Joanna Scicluna, who led the team on the day.
The Malta Taekwondo Association now looks to its next challenge: the Malta Open, due to take place on the 3rd of December 2023. Definitely one not to miss!
