#19: Maltese Athletes Bag More Medals In Belgium

Another international venture ended with medals after the Iron Taekwondo League (Malta) hit Belgium on the 25th of November 2023.

Mudokwan’s Brussels Indoor Open never failed to please. Moreso this year, after the signing-up of some big names.

Olympic Medalist Pascal Gentil was probably the most anticipated competitor in the event. World-renowned coach Juan Antonio Ramos also sat ringside for a few of his own athletes.

ITL’s team comprised 11 players, and together they returned with 4 medals (three golds and one bronze).

International debutant Kieran Vella (Kids -22kg) hit the ground running with his first-ever gold out of Malta.

He won with a round score of 2:0 against his French Opponent in the final of his respective set.

ITL Cadet Michela Scerri (-41kg) made a spectacular showing in each of her four fights.

Michela won gold, finishing each fight with a comfortable scoreline. All round scores of 2:0. She also managed to accrue three twelve-point-gaps throughout the tournament.

Her group had thirteen competitors in total, hailing from Andorra, France, Belgium, and Italy.

One of the team’s coaches, Gianluca Barbara enrolled in the Masters Category (-80kg) along with two Italian opponents and another from Luxembourg. He emerged the winner of the set after two tough fights.

The semi-final was won with a round score of 2:0 and the final, with a round score of 2:1. Each against two Italian opponents.

ITL’s fourth medal came by way of Dwayne Micallef, who competed in the kids -24kg category, fighting up a class from his usual -22kg.

Dwayne won his first match against a French opponent and progressed to the semi-final. He then lost against a Belgian in a closely-fought encounter with a marginal difference in score.

The elimination came in the semi-final round, which meant he secured a bronze for his efforts.

There was no shortage of hard-fought encounters for the remainder of the tournament, given the high level of the competitors.

Alycia Cassar fought in the Cadets -55kg category but lost with a round score of 2:1 against her Belgian adversary. The Belgian then cruised to the semi-final and lost to the highly-ranked Czech Anna Spinarova.

Robin Zammit (Cadets -37kg) lost in his first match against another Belgian opponent with a round score of 2:0. Both with marginal scorelines.

Emma Lautier (Kids -24kg), who was the first to fight on the day, lost her first match with a round score of 2:1. Another very close encounter with a Belgian athlete who got the better of the Maltese in the final round. A remarkable display from the Maltese, nevertheless.

Ella Schembri (Kids -32kg) hit the competition. Her second since Serbia, last May. Unfortunately, she lost with a round score of 2:0 in her first match. But with many lessons learned from the encounter, we now look to the next opportunity.

Brayden Micallef (Cadets -41kg) played his first-ever international tournament at A-class level. Unfortunately, he suffered a loss against his experienced opponent.

Fergeson Galea also made an impressive showing given his lack of experience. In his first round, he drew the renowned athlete from Belgium who later won the entire set. The Maltese led throughout the first round and even landed a crazy double head kick.

A small lapse in concentration then created an opening for the Belgian to land a body shot and turn the score in his favor. Fergeson then lost the second round.

Mamadou Balde (Senior -80kg) lost 2:0 against his German adversary, a national hopeful in the first game of the set.

Jean Schembri (Cadet -37kg) unfortunately had to withdraw from the competition before getting a chance to play. ITL’s young player suffered an injury prior to the event.

The team was led by coaches Ditmir Vodinaj and Gianluca Barbara, and attended by families that made a wholesome contingent of 25 persons.

The MTA congratulates the athletes and their coaches for another successful venture abroad.