Malta's Iron Taekwondo League Shines at 2025 Open De Liege, Winning Two Golds and a Bronze
Three athletes from the Iron Taekwondo League (ITL) returned from the 2025 Open De Liege in Belgium with an impressive haul of medals – two golds, one bronze, and one trophy. The tournament, held on 17 February, saw ITL’s fighters showcase their skill and determination on the international stage.
The team, led by coach Gianluca Barbara, also saw Barbara competing in the Masters -80 kg category, alongside Czarek Odlanicki Poczobutt (Senior – 87 kg) and Fergeson Galea (Senior – 58 kg), who made his senior debut at the event.
Galea kicked off the day in impressive fashion, facing French competitor Djebril Bahroum in the opening round (R8). He won decisively, maintaining a 12-point lead and finishing the match before time. In the quarterfinals, Galea defeated Belgian fighter Julien Gilliard with another strong performance, winning 2-0.
Advancing to the semifinals, Galea was matched up with Ilyas Ouhennou from Bamara Elite Sport Club (FRA). Although Galea lost the first round, he quickly turned the tide with a dominant 8-0 win in round two. The final round saw a tense back-and-forth, with Ouhennou holding a narrow one-point lead with only five seconds remaining. Galea landed a headshot in those final moments, but after a video replay, the referees ruled the point invalid due to a timing error. Unfortunately, Galea was unable to score again and was eliminated, earning a well-deserved bronze medal for his efforts.
In the Masters -80 kg category, coach Gianluca Barbara faced a tough challenge in the final against Belgium’s Bruno Delattre from Korea Club Houdeng. Despite a significant size disadvantage, Barbara started strong, leading 3-1 after round one. Delattre fought back in round two, landing two headshots to take the lead at 15-10. However, Barbara regained control in the third round, landing key punches and a headshot to extend his lead to 8-0, securing the victory and gold. For the second consecutive year, Barbara was also awarded the title of Best Player in the Masters division.
Czarek Odlanicki Poczobutt rounded out the team’s success by defeating Faruk Semiz (BEL) in the final, claiming the second gold for ITL. His flying headshot in the second round sealed his victory in what was the final match of the day.
With only three athletes, ITL finished an impressive 16th out of 72 teams at the competition, many of which fielded much larger teams. The team’s strong performance demonstrated their dedication and skill on the international stage.
The ITL team thanked the organizers of the Open De Liege 2025, with special gratitude directed toward Mr. Fabio De Simone, the competition organizer and Head Coach of Koryo Grace-Hollogne, for his hospitality and leadership. De Simone, who also coaches his own team while managing the tournament, worked alongside co-coach Didier Lebon to run the event smoothly.
“This was our second year at the Open De Liege, and it has been an important experience for all three athletes,” said Gianluca Barbara. “Returning with two golds and one bronze, along with a wealth of experience, we’re excited to keep the momentum going for future competitions.”
