#104: 8 Medals With 2 Golds, Strong Performances For ITL Fighters In England
The Iron Taekwondo League returned from the Whiston Open (held in Liverpool, UK) with medals, powerful performances, and unforgettable memories after an action-packed weekend of competition and training in the UK.
On the day, ITL had eight total athletes participating, including the team coach: Gianluca Barbara (masters, - 74 kg male). The athletes were:
Brayden Micallef (cadets, - 53 kg male A)
Dwayne Micallef (children, - 29 kg male A)
Dias Micallef (peewee, - 22 kg male B)
Oliver Gatt (children, - 36 kg male A)
Emma Gellel (cadets, - 41 kg female B)
Nina Gellel (children, - 44 kg female B)
Dailen Barbara (cadets, - 49 kg male B)
Two Gold Medalists
Gianluca Barbara (left) & Nina Gellel (right)
Young athlete Nina Gellel stepped on the mat after a very successful preparation period that included a training camp in Albania. On the day, she would show her quality with three consecutive wins in the quarter-final, semi-final and final - storming to first place.
She ended five of her six total rounds with a point-gap.
Coach Gianluca Barbara also won gold. It would be his tenth international gold in the men’s masters category. On the day, he ended each round in the final before time.
Three Silver Medalists
ITL’s very own Brayden Micallef put everything on the line, fighting with fearless determination. He pushed through to the final with grit and fire, winning his semi-final match with dominance.
He missed out on gold having sustained a loss in the final with only a few points. Still, it was one of the most exciting matches of the cadet division, with the two displaying a fantastic flurry of technical kicks.
Dias, Brayden’s very own brother also came back with silver. At just seven years of age, Dias overcame two opponents in the QF and SF, meeting the eventual group-winner in the final. He too lost with the narrowest of margins to leave with a silver medal. But through it all, he impressed with a mature and spirited performance well beyond his years.
An international debut to remember.
Dailen Barbara encountered one opponent in his group. He showed great courage in stepping onto the mat and fighting his way through to the final. Although the result went against us this time, this experience marked an important step in his journey.
Competing at this level is never easy, and it takes both bravery and maturity to keep coming back stronger.
Three Bronze Medals
Fighting up a class (for lack of opponents in his group), Dwayne Micallef hit the mat in the men’s - 29 kg A group (as opposed to his usual 26) and encountered the eventual group winner.
He fought very hard in both rounds of his SF game, though the result would go to the UK-based athlete. Dwayne would walk off with a hard-earned bronze.
Fighting in the children’s -36 kg A group was Oliver Gatt, who bowed out in the semi-final against an experienced British athlete, despite a very spirited performance.
And finally, Emma Gellel would also claim a bronze medal after a very hard-fought fight in the semi-final. Emma showed great courage and a great attitude, entering the mat and giving it her very all.
With just 8 total players, ITL even landed an 11th-placed finish overall, amongst the 30 present teams in the competition.
ITL together with Whiston Taekwondo
Training Camp with Whiston Taekwondo
Before the competition, the team took part in an intense training camp with Whiston Taekwondo Club, led by Josh and Ed Calland.
The father-and-son duo welcomed the Iron Taekwondo League like family, offering world-class coaching, hard sparring, and invaluable lessons.
ITL participated in a memorable training exchange with Whiston Taekwondo club for one week.
More than just training, the camp built bonds and created memories that will last a lifetime. A huge thank you to Josh, Ed, and the entire Whiston Taekwondo family for their hospitality and support.
The Road Ahead
The Whiston Open was a showcase of what ITL stands for: courage, discipline, teamwork, and heart. From gold medals to hard lessons, every athlete came home stronger, hungrier, and ready for the next challenge.
Iron sharpens iron — and the journey goes on.
