#137: ITL THF Team - Q1 & Q2 2026 Report

The first and second quarter of 2026 marked another active and productive period for the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) team, managed by Iron Taekwondo. The first months of the year reflected steady athletic development, competitive exposure, and strong team cohesion, reinforcing the program’s mission of empowering athletes through structured training, international opportunity, and personal growth.

The team also welcomed two new members - Fergeson Galea and Luca Falzon, who joined the team and marked their own successes right off the bat.

Training and Technical Development

Throughout Q1, the team maintained consistent training across both Kyorugi and Poomsae, with a continued focus on technical refinement, tactical awareness, and physical conditioning.

This period culminated in a formal grading examination, during which the athletes demonstrated clear progress in skill, discipline, and confidence. Nazar and Arsenii Baranishyn (Green Belts), Anhelina Hladchenko (Green Belt) and Kostiatyn Shkundia (Green Tag) have been promoted and all capped off the event with top marks. This event marked an important milestone in their technical journey.

Competitive Performance

International competition remained a key pillar of the team’s development strategy. A highlight of the quarter was Anhelina’s and Kostiatyn’s medal-winning performance (two silvers) at the 5th Online Kyonggi University Open Poomsae Championships.

Athletes Anhelina and Kostiatyn continued their impressive form in May, this time at the 6th Toronto International Open Poomsae & Para Poomsae Championships 2026, where both brought athletes secured golds in their respective categories of individual poomsae.

On the Kyorugi front, ITL/THF’s Fergeson Galea competed in Manchester at the Apex Championships, securing gold in the Advanced - 63 kg category after two impressive fights.

One week later, Fergeson competed at the Asteriks Cup in Nis, Serbia, and secured a bronze medal.

Iron Island Training Camp

All THF athletes took part in a training camp organised by the Malta Taekwondo Association in conjunction with ITL.

The camp brought together 105 athletes from 11 countries — Malta, France, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom and Greece — for a truly memorable weekend of high-level training and connection.

Held at the stunning Salini Resort, overlooking Malta’s blue Mediterranean waters, the setting perfectly matched the energy and quality of the camp. The venue provided not only excellent training facilities but also the kind of atmosphere that encourages focus, recovery and camaraderie.

Looking Ahead

As 2026 begins, the ITL THF Team demonstrated meaningful progress across athletic performance, technical development, and team cohesion.

With renewed motivation and clear objectives, the team looks forward to its first international venture, to take place by the third quarter of the year.

All members of the THF team, led by coach Gianluca Barbara, are now preparing for their next international adventure: the 10th Munich Open, to be held on October 17th.

The attending athletes will take part in Kyorugi and Poomsae divisions, under representation of the ITL and THF.

Meanwhile, athletes continue to their taekwondo training program on a 4-times-per-week basis at the club, with kyorugi athletes now included in an additional strength and conditioning program also offered under the auspices of the club.