#111: Malta’s Fergeson Galea Makes His Mark at the Taekwondo World Championships in Wuxi
Wuxi, China — October 2025
Iron Taekwondo’s very own Fergeson “Ferdie” Galea made his international debut at the World Taekwondo Senior Championships in Wuxi, China, representing Team Malta in the highly competitive -63 kg division.
This division saw 85 of the world’s best athletes fight it out in the impressive halls of one of Taekwondo’s major capitals.
Galea’s performance captured all of our attention — proving that Malta’s next generation of Taekwondo talent is one to watch.
Drawn against Fernando Lewis of Panama in fight 201, the opening match of Day 2, Ferdie stepped onto the world stage with confidence and composure well beyond his experience.
Despite having trained in Taekwondo for just over two years, he stood toe-to-toe with the seasoned Panamanian athlete, losing both rounds by the narrowest of margins — a single scoring shot in each.
The match showcased Ferdie’s sharp tactical awareness and explosive kicking ability. In Round 2, he came within inches of turning the fight around with a spectacular spinning round kick that narrowly missed Lewis’ head — a technique that, had it landed, could have sealed the round in Malta’s favour.
Moments earlier, he successfully landed a clean double-up round kick to the head, which initially went unregistered by the KPNP electronic scoring system. After a successful video replay challenge, the point was rightfully awarded — a testament to Ferdie’s precision and perseverance.
Beyond the competition itself, the experience in Wuxi was an invaluable opportunity for development. In the days leading up to the tournament, Ferdie trained alongside athletes from all over the world — including a productive exchange with members of the Kazakhstan national team. He also met, trained with and sparred with athletes from various Oceanic countries, like New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Cook Islands.
These sessions provided a unique insight into the global level of Taekwondo and offered priceless learning moments for both athlete and national coach Gianluca Barbara.
Speaking after the match, Gianluca expressed pride in Ferdie’s performance:
“These two years I watched you embrace a philosophy of hard work, fearlessness and discipline. You learnt what it means to fight hard, eat healthily, push through injuries and most importantly — be confident in yourself.”
“I’m proud of you, man. For the hard hours you’ve spent pushing yourself, pushing the team and pushing even me.”
“Keep it going man, we need only keep working.”
Fergeson Galea’s journey in Wuxi marks a significant step for Maltese Taekwondo on the world stage. His performance reflects the growing strength of local athletes and the continued dedication of clubs like Iron Taekwondo, which are raising the standard of the sport across the island.
