#142: ITL THF Team – Mid-Year Update 2026
Read our previous report by clicking here.
The second half of 2026 is already shaping up to be an important period for the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) team managed by Iron Taekwondo, with further competitive success at home and online now being followed by some of the team’s most significant international opportunities to date.
Following a productive first half of the year, which saw the athletes continue their development across both Kyorugi and Poomsae, the latest months have brought further medals, valuable competitive experience and, importantly, preparations for the team’s first physical international venture.
Further Poomsae Success for Anhelina
Anhelina Hladchenko continued her excellent run of form in Poomsae by securing gold at the 7th Online Range Open Poomsae Championships.
The result added another international medal to Anhelina’s growing record, following her previous performances at the Kyonggi University and Toronto International online championships earlier in the year.
Anhelina (red) has competed in several poomsae and kyorugi competitions already.
Her continued progress reflects the importance placed on developing THF athletes as complete taekwondo practitioners, with opportunities to train and compete across both the Kyorugi and Poomsae disciplines.
Rising Stars 3 – Three Golds and a Silver
The THF team was strongly represented on the local competitive circuit at Rising Stars 3, with four athletes taking to the mats in Kyorugi competition and every member of the team returning with a medal.
Nazar Baranishyn, Fergeson Galea and Luca Falzon all secured gold medals in their respective categories, while Anhelina Hladchenko claimed silver, completing an excellent outing for the ITL/THF contingent.
For the younger and developing members of the team, the competition provided another valuable opportunity to translate their regular training into a competitive environment and accumulate important match experience. For the more experienced athletes, it offered another opportunity to sharpen their competitive form ahead of the international challenges awaiting the team later in the year.
The result — three gold medals and one silver from four athletes — represented another encouraging indication of the team's continued progress across the Kyorugi discipline.
Munich Beckons: First Physical International Venture
One of the biggest milestones in the programme so far will come in October, when Anhelina Hladchenko and Luca Falzon travel to Germany to compete at the 10th Munich Open.
The competition will mark the pair’s first physical international competition representing the ITL/THF programme, representing an important progression from the online international events in which the team has participated.
Both athletes are set to compete across Kyorugi and Poomsae, giving them the opportunity to test themselves internationally in both competitive disciplines.
The Munich Open represents considerably more than another tournament on the calendar. Providing young athletes with genuine international sporting opportunities has been one of the central objectives of the THF programme from its inception.
For Anhelina and Luca, October will therefore mark an important new chapter in their development.
Fergeson Galea Set for Albania Open G1
Meanwhile, THF athlete Fergeson Galea is preparing for another major international challenge, with the Maltese athlete set to compete at the Albania Open G1.
Fergeson has already enjoyed a strong international campaign during 2026, having secured gold at the Apex Championships in Manchester before adding a bronze medal at the Asteriks Cup in Niš, Serbia.
His participation at the Albania Open represents another step forward, with the G1-ranked event offering the opportunity to compete in a significantly higher-level international environment.
From Development to International Opportunity
The latest period represents an important evolution for the ITL/THF project.
Throughout its development, the programme has sought to provide its athletes with far more than regular taekwondo training. The objective has been to create a genuine sporting pathway incorporating technical development, competition, training camps and progressively greater international exposure.
That progression is now becoming increasingly visible.
The team has accumulated medals across online international Poomsae events and local Kyorugi competitions, while athletes are now preparing to travel abroad and represent the programme on the international stage.
Training continues at Iron Taekwondo on a four-times-per-week basis, alongside additional physical preparation for the team’s Kyorugi athletes.
With the 10th Munich Open and Albania Open G1 now on the horizon, the remainder of 2026 promises to be another important chapter for the ITL THF Team — and, most importantly, for the young athletes at the heart of the programme.
The current squad consists of athletes: Nazar Baranishyn, Arsenii Baranishyn, Kostiatyn Shkundia, Anhelina Hladchenko, Fergeson Galea and Luca Falzon, managed by ITL coaches Gianluca Barbara, Ditmir Vodinaj, Jovo Mirkovic and Romano Biondi. The team trains four times per week at the ITL premises in dojang; together with the first team of the club: Iron Taekwondo League.
