Three Maltese fighters from Iron Taekwondo League (ITL) made their mark at the 2025 Open De Liège in Belgium, securing an impressive two gold medals, one bronze, and a trophy in a highly competitive tournament.

The team, led by coach and competitor Gianluca Barbara, competed on 17th February, putting on a strong display against some of Europe’s top fighters.

Czarek Odlanicki Poczobutt (senior -87 kg), Fergeson Galea (senior -58 kg), and Barbara (Masters -80 kg) each fought their way to the podium, bringing international recognition to Malta’s taekwondo scene.

Galea, making his senior debut, showed incredible skill and determination. He dominated his Round of 8 match against French fighter Djebril Bahroum, securing a decisive victory with two 12-point gap wins before time expired. He then went on to defeat Belgian opponent Julien Gilliard in the quarterfinals with a flawless 2-0 score.

In the semifinals, he faced Ilyas Ouhennou (FRA) from the renowned Bamara Elite Sport Club, in what turned out to be a nail-biting match. Despite a strong 8-0 victory in the second round, Galea fell just short in the third, losing by a single point after a controversial refereeing decision. His outstanding performance earned him a bronze medal, marking a promising start to his senior career.

Barbara, competing in the Masters -80 kg category, faced off against Bruno Delattre (BEL) of Korea Club Houdeng in the final. Despite facing a larger opponent, Barbara started strong, taking the first round 3-1 with well-placed punches. Delattre fought back in round two, landing two headshots to win the round 15-10.

However, Barbara responded with a dominant third round, scoring early with a punch and headshot to take an 8-0 lead and maintain control until the final buzzer, securing gold.

Speaking about his victory, Barbara admitted that stepping into the final while still recovering from illness made it even more of a challenge.

“On a personal note, this was one difficult ordeal, having entered the final fight still recovering from the flu. I say flu, but it was some bubonic plague-type bullshit, no joke. I couldn’t breathe for the entire match,” he said.

Despite this, he pushed through, embodying ITL’s fighting spirit. “I was sure I was going to lose, but I wanted to do it nevertheless. Because at ITL, we don’t back down. Even when the circumstances are shit,” Barbara added. “Moral of the story: If you can only give 50%, at least make sure the opponent feels every drop.”

Adding to his achievement, he was also awarded the Best Player in the Masters Division for the second consecutive year.

The final competitor, Czarek Odlanicki, delivered an exceptional performance in the heavyweight division. Facing Faruk Semiz (BEL) from Corea Club Charleroi in the final, Odlanicki displayed his dominance, winning both rounds convincingly. A flying headshot in the second round sealed his victory, earning ITL’s second gold medal of the tournament.

Despite competing with just three fighters, ITL finished 16th out of 72 teams, outperforming much larger contingents. The team expressed gratitude to the Open De Liège 2025 organisers, particularly Fabio De Simone, for hosting another high-level competition.

“This was the second year running that ITL took part in this event,” said Barbara.

“The Open de Liège proved to be an important event for all three athletes as they continue to gain experience in their respective categories. The team returned to Malta with two gold medals, one bronze, and a wealth of experience to keep the momentum going all the way to the next competition.”

Well done!