#103: Battling Europe’s Best: Iron Taekwondo Gains Ground at the Multi-European Games
From the 29th to the 31st of August, Iron Taekwondo League proudly competed at the Multi-European Games in Niš, Serbia. Representing Malta on an international stage, our team fielded six dedicated athletes: one cadet (Jean Schembri), two juniors (Michela Scerri and Alycia Cassar), and three seniors (Fergeson Galea, Czarek Odlanicki, and refugee team player Ashik Sunil).
Our youngest athletes showed both courage and heart. Cadet competitor Jean Schembri and junior Michela Scerri both faced tough first-round matches against Turkish opponents. While the results didn’t fall in their favor, both performances reflected the hard work and discipline they’ve been putting into their training. Their willingness to step into the ring against some of the strongest competitors in Europe highlights their determination and bright future in the sport.
Junior athlete Alycia Cassar delivered one of the team’s standout performances. She opened her campaign with an impressive win against Turkey, followed by another strong victory over Greece. In the quarterfinal, she missed out on a medal after fighting Russia, but her fighting spirit and sharp performance proved she is a rising force on the international stage.
Among the seniors, Fergeson Galea made his debut in the -63kg category after moving up from -58kg. He delivered a thrilling match against Croatia’s national athlete, seeded fourth in the tournament. Fergeson pushed the fight to the limit, even taking a round, before narrowly losing.
Both Czarek Odlanicki and Ashik Sunil faced strong opposition in their opening matches, meeting Croatia and Turkey respectively. Czarek went toe-to-toe with a current European Champion, gaining valuable experience that will serve him well moving forward, while Ashik showed resilience and spirit as part of the refugee team.
Overall, the Multi-European Games was a hugely positive experience for Iron Taekwondo League. Each athlete, regardless of result, gained invaluable exposure against some of Europe’s best. For our senior athletes especially - still relatively new to high-level competition - this tournament marked another important step in their growth and preparation.
With lessons learned and confidence gained, ITL now looks ahead to the final third of the year with renewed focus and intensity.
