#114: Iron Taekwondo League Shines at the 6th Royal Cup in Turin
Iron Taekwondo League proudly represented Malta at the 6th Royal Cup in Turin, Italy, held on the 22nd and 23rd November 2025, returning home with one gold and one bronze medal after a weekend of high-level performances and spirited competition.
ITL fielded a three-athlete team composed of:
Fergeson Galea – Senior –63 kg A Class
Matteo Cassar – Cadet –49 kg A Class (debut)
Gianluca Barbara – Master –80 kg A Class, who also served as Team Coach
Both Fergeson and Matteo fought up a class from their usual blue/green belts in this tournament.
Matteo Cassar: A Strong Debut
Making his debut on the international stage, Matteo Cassar delivered an impressive first showing. In the Round of 8, he secured a confident win against Bonato Davide of Taekwondo Club Schio.
Moving into the Quarter-Final, he faced Simone Origlia, putting on a brave and technically solid performance. Despite a narrow loss in a tightly contested match, Matteo demonstrated outstanding potential and composure beyond his years.
Fergeson Galea Claims Bronze After a Thrilling Semi-Final
In the Senior –63kg category, Fergeson Galea battled Jason Tognetti from Taekwondo Attitude in the semi-final.
Tognetti took the first round, but Fergeson showed remarkable determination, clawing back the second round to force a decisive third. The Maltese also landed two sublime spinning shots.
In the final exchanges, Tognetti edged ahead, but the match remained close throughout. Fergeson’s bronze medal was well deserved, reflecting his grit and strong tactical execution.
Gianluca Barbara Secures Gold in Master –80kg
ITL coach and competitor Gianluca Barbara defeated Alessandro Saccini with a clean 2:0 victory. He then faced experienced athlete Gabriele Cera in the Final, once again securing a 2:0 round score to claim gold for the ITL team.
A Warm Welcome in Turin
Iron Taekwondo League extends its heartfelt thanks to the organiser and President of Piemonte Taekwondo, Edoardo Greco, for the exceptional hospitality and smooth organisation of the event. The team was welcomed as family throughout its stay.
ITL was also greeted by many familiar faces, including close friends from ASD Taekwondo Dragon, a club with deep personal ties to Gianluca Barbara.
