#139: Iron Taekwondo Returns From Kixstar Open 2026 With Impressive Medal Haul
Crawley, United Kingdom – 2nd August 2026
Iron Taekwondo League proudly represented Malta at the Kixstar Open 2026, held in Crawley, United Kingdom, with a delegation of six athletes and Coach Gianluca Barbara.
Competing against some of the strongest clubs and athletes from across the United Kingdom, the team produced an outstanding performance, returning home with an impressive collection of medals and invaluable international experience.
Double gold for Dias Micallef
Dias Micallef enjoyed a perfect day in the Male Children B Class -26kg category.
He won his final comfortably to claim his first gold medal. Later in the day, he agreed to compete in an additional category to ensure another athlete without an opponent could also compete. Dias once again emerged victorious, defeating the same opponent to secure his second gold medal of the tournament.
His willingness to compete again demonstrated both sporting spirit and confidence.
Nina Gellel earns gold and silver
Competing in the Female Cadet B Class -47kg division, Nina Gellel reached the final where she faced Britain's Alanah Roach.
After two competitive and hard-fought rounds, Nina finished with a well-earned silver medal.
Like Dias, Nina later accepted the opportunity to compete out of category against another athlete who otherwise would not have had a match. She rose to the challenge superbly, winning the contest and adding a gold medal to her day's achievements.
Gold for Oliver Gatt
Oliver Gatt competed in the Male Cadet B Class -37kg division and produced an excellent performance in the final, winning the match in two rounds.
Displaying confidence and composure throughout the match, Oliver defeated his opponent to become Kixstar Open Champion, bringing home another gold medal for Iron Taekwondo League.
Oliver doubled on his impressive form, after having won gold while representing his team at the Apex Championships last May.
Bronze for Dwayne Micallef
In the highly competitive Male Children A Class -29kg division, Dwayne Micallef faced exceptionally strong opposition.
After reaching the medal stages, Dwayne came up against European Clubs Champion Riian Gosrani in a fiercely contested encounter. Although he narrowly missed out on progressing further, his performance earned him a bronze medal, reflecting another strong international showing.
Noah Barbara delivers A standout Performance And Claims Silver
Six-year-old Noah Barbara competed in the Male Peewee C Class -22kg division and immediately demonstrated remarkable composure and skill.
In the semi-final, Noah secured victory by point gap through excellent movement, intelligent footwork and confident kicking.
The final proved to be one of the most exciting matches of the day.
After losing the opening round 10-2, Noah sustained a kick to the face that resulted in a cut lip. Showing tremendous determination beyond his years, he returned for the second round with incredible spirit, producing a spectacular comeback to win 11-2, including a perfectly timed head kick that connected with his opponent's nose and drew blood.
With the match tied at one round apiece, everything came down to the deciding third round. In an intense manual-scoring contest, Noah narrowly lost 9-8, earning a well-deserved silver medal after a performance that drew admiration from coaches and spectators alike.
Valuable experience for Brayden Micallef
Brayden Micallef competed in the Male Junior A Class -55kg division.
Facing an athlete from the highly respected NTC club in the quarter-finals, Brayden produced a determined performance before eventually being eliminated in what proved to be another challenging international contest.
He wouldn’t miss out on a medal though.
Like his two fellow athletes, Brayden was invited to play out-of-category in another junior category, filling in for a fighter with no opponent. He faced an athlete from Loughton Taekwondo.
The match was fought over two rounds, and Brayden showed incredible confidence and technical expertise, leading him to a match win and a gold medal in the final. It was his second gold after his previous adventure in Nis, Serbia last May.
The day didn’t end there for him, either. Brayden also followed coach Gianluca Barbara to the sole team-combat game as part of a selection with four other UK-based athletes; pitched against a TEAM GB selection in what was to be one of the most exciting matches of the day.
Brayden showed exceptional skill, connecting with several high-level techniques including spinning kicks to the head that left the audience awestruck.
The team sustained a loss, but nevertheless, the first-time experience in team combat was an invaluable opportunity.
Gianluca Barbara Coaches Selection Of UK-Based Athletes, Together With His Own Athlete, In Team Combat
Following the individual competition, Coach Gianluca Barbara was invited to help coach a combined team consisting of British athletes together with Iron Taekwondo League's own Brayden Micallef in an exciting Team Combat exhibition against a selection of Team GB athletes.
Barbara worked alongside Mohammed Nour, Head Coach of New Generation Taekwondo (UK) and former Team GB athlete, in guiding the team through a thrilling encounter that captivated the audience.
Despite an outstanding performance that impressed spectators throughout the venue, victory ultimately went to the Team GB selection.
A successful international outing
The Kixstar Open once again proved to be an excellent opportunity for Iron Taekwondo League athletes to test themselves against high-quality international opposition while continuing their development on the international stage.
The club returned to Malta with an outstanding medal tally of:
🥇 5 Gold Medals
🥈 2 Silver Medals
🥉 1 Bronze Medal
Beyond the medals, the tournament showcased the courage, determination and sportsmanship of every Iron Taekwondo League athlete. The club extends its sincere thanks to the organisers of the Kixstar Open for another fantastic event and congratulates every athlete, coach and parent who contributed to a memorable weekend in the United Kingdom.
Iron Taekwondo League now looks ahead to the remainder of the 2026 season with renewed confidence and motivation as preparations continue for the challenges ahead.
