A Maltese athlete has just bagged a major international medal – the first time someone from the island ever achieved it.

Isaac Bezzina, representing Malta Judo Squad, was awarded the bronze medal in the Oceania Continental Open in Perth, Australia.

The open was classified as a Grand Prix, meaning the judoka winning medals receive much more points when compared to other Continental Opens.

The last time a Maltese athlete obtained such a high ranking in Judo was earlier this year, when Bezzina himself came in 5th place in the Tunis African Open.

In Perth, Bezzina was uncontested in the first match.

However, he faced Britain’s Thompson Rhys in the next bout, who won the fight on Ippon (full points). Thompson would go on to win the category.

As this bout happened in the quarter final round, Bezzina then had the opportunity to fight for bronze.

In his first repechage contest, Bezzina threw Pakistan’s Qaisar Khan with a beautiful throw, scoring Ippon, and winning his spot in the bronze medal match.

Bezzina then faced Korea’s Yejun Yeo, who recently won the Asian Junior Championships.

Bezzina kept on attacking and finally threw Yeo with another massive Ippon, snagging the bronze.