#59: Four Maltese Players Hit Grand Prix Qualifier In Albania
Led by national coach Ditmir Vodinaj (ITL), four players hit their first major event of the year, as a national team: The first European Junior/Cadet Qualifying Event in Tirana, Albania.
The selected athletes consisted of juniors Michela Scerri, Alycia Cassar and Luke Chircop, while the cadet selection consisted solely of Jean Schembri.
Left to right: Luke Chircop, Jean Schembri, Ditmir Vodinaj, Michela Scerri and Alycia Cassar.
Alycia Cassar (ITL) fought first, having made a comeback after an injury that ruled her out of the game for no less than nine months.
Alycia fought Greek athlete Maria Papadyonisiou in 607 and won with a round score of 2:0. She then met Nora El Harche Koning (ESP) in the R16; the Spaniard is a renowned athlete in the European circuit. Both Koning and Alycia claimed a round a piece, and had to play a third round decider, though in the end, the score went against the Maltese.
Michela (ITL) fought on the same day, meeting Greek athlete Paraskevi Kalogirou in the QF of the event. Michela was seeded second in her respective set. It was a difficult match for the Maltese, who also faced a formidable opponent in the Greek, who is well-experienced in the European circuit. In the end, Kalogirou got the better of the Maltese and advanced to the next round.
On the next day, Luke Chircop took the mat, meeting Zongos Dinitrios from Greece in the first match of the day. It was Luke’s debut as a junior in the circuit. Despite that, the Maltese fought with some heart in the opening stage of the event, narrowly missing out on a round win with a small margin.
On the final day, ITL’s Jean Schembri faced Italian Matteo Imbrogiano in his own hotly contested M -41 kg group. Jean registered a convincing win in the first round but lost the second round. It was all to play for in the final round. Both the Maltese and Italian played defensively in the third, looking to not give any space for the opponent to capitalise. In the end, however, the Italian edged through, once again with a small margin, leaving the score against the Maltese.
The Maltese contingent was lead by national coach Ditmir Vodinaj in his capacity as national coach.
This event became the third European Taekwondo Union (ETU) GP event aimed at juniors and cadets, following the debut of ITL’s Michela Scerri and Jean Schembri’s showing at the finals last December.
On behalf of the association, we congratulate the team for their showing at the prestigious event, which again marks a huge step for the athletes, their club and country.
