#132: Young Iron Athletes Shine at APEX Championships
On 10th May 2026, I had the privilege of travelling to the APEX Championships together with a young team from Iron Taekwondo League — a group made up mostly of first-year cadets, alongside one junior and one senior athlete.
For many of them, this was more than just another competition. It was another important step in their development, testing themselves against strong international opposition, learning how to handle pressure, and continuing to grow as athletes and individuals.
The team returned home with an impressive medal haul:
Eva Mifsud Calleja 🥇
Oliver Gatt 🥇
Fergeson Galea 🥇
Alexandros Litviakov 🥈
Merobika Abdela 🥈
Firayaad Abdela 🥉
Dailen Barbara 🥉
Nina Gellel — 5th place after a very hard-fought and close contest
Fergeson Galea produced an emphatic semi-final performance against Greame Campbell from Momentum, securing victory through a point gap after dominating the match. In the final, he faced Riley Brereton from Ultimate Taekwondo and once again delivered a composed and convincing display to claim the gold medal.
Eva Mifsud Calleja also showed tremendous determination throughout the day. In the semi-final, she faced Aishah Aurangzeb from Premier TKD in a difficult and competitive encounter, edging through to the final. There, she met Kara Sewell from Premier TKD. After a very closely contested first round, Eva raised her level significantly in the second round and controlled the match convincingly to secure gold.
Oliver Gatt gave the crowd one of the most exciting moments of the competition. Facing Poriya Khoshghad from Apex Taekwondo, the host club, Oliver landed a spectacular spinning head kick in the dying seconds of the match to secure victory. Carrying that momentum into the final against Bryson Hewetson, he fought with confidence and maturity to claim another gold medal for the team.
Alexandros Litviakov and Merobika Abdela both reached their respective finals, earning silver medals after strong performances throughout the competition.
Dailen Barbara fought courageously in his semi-final bout, narrowly missing out on a place in the final and taking home bronze after a highly competitive match.
Firayaad Abdela and Nina Gellel also showed excellent fighting spirit in their categories. Both athletes managed to take a round from their opponents, demonstrating their ability and determination under pressure. Despite their strong efforts, their opponents managed to edge the following rounds by narrow margins, resulting in a bronze medal for Firayaad and a 5th place finish for Nina.
Together, the team landed 14th out of 34 teams with the medals amassed.
Beyond the medals and results, what stood out most throughout the venture was the growth of these young athletes. Watching first-year cadets step onto international mats with courage and composure is always rewarding as a coach. Competitions like these are not only about podium finishes — they are about learning, adapting, building resilience, and gaining experience that will shape them for years to come.
The day before the championships, the team also had the opportunity to visit Whiston Taekwondo for a joint training session led by Ed Calland.
Over time, a close bond has developed between our clubs, and opportunities like these continue to strengthen both the athletes and the wider Taekwondo community.
Iron Taekwondo League would like to extend sincere thanks to Apex Taekwondo, competition organiser Rick Simpson, and all the coaches and clubs involved for their warm welcome and professionalism throughout the event. The Maltese athletes were made to feel at home from the moment they arrived.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you goes to all the parents and accompanying family members who made this trip so memorable. Their support, commitment, and belief in these young athletes continue to make ventures like this possible.
