#125: ITL Shines at the 5th Online Kyonggi University Open Poomsae Championships
The Iron Taekwondo League (ITL) delivered an impressive performance at the 5th Online Kyonggi University Open Poomsae Championships, showcasing both talent and determination on the international stage.
Represented by a focused team of eight athletes, ITL proudly secured a total of seven medals, marking a significant achievement for the club and Maltese Taekwondo.
In the individual divisions, Anhelina Hladenova and Kostiantyn Shkundia each earned silver medals, delivering strong and technically refined performances against high-level competition.
From left to right: Kostiatyn Shkundia, Alyanna De Leon and Fatma Azzam.
Adding to the medal count were four bronze medals, secured by Noah Barbara, Fatma Azzam, Alyanna De Leon, and the team’s poomsae coach — Jovo Mirkovic. Each athlete displayed commendable skill and composure, contributing to the team’s overall success.
The team’s Gold came by way of the Family Poomsae category by Noah and Gianluca Barbara.
Gianluca and Noah Barbara participated in the Family Poomsae edition of the tournament.
A special mention goes to Romano Biondi, who placed 10th in a highly competitive category that included world champions. This marked his first competition representing ITL as a Masters Poomsae athlete. His performance reflects strong potential, and he now steps into a new role within the organization as ITL’s newest coaching member.
ITL’s newest addition: Romano Biondi (Dan V)
On a broader scale, the Maltese representation achieved an impressive 10th place ranking out of 23 participating countries. At club level, ITL secured 8th place out of 46 clubs, underlining the strength and depth of the team despite its relatively small size.
The team was led by Jovo Mirkovic, whose leadership and experience played a key role in guiding the athletes through the competition.
This successful outing highlights ITL’s continued growth and commitment to excellence in poomsae, reinforcing its position as one of Malta’s leading Taekwondo clubs on the international stage.
