#69: ITL Claims 11 Medals In Belgium, With 2 Golds

Another international venture ended with 11 medals after ITL hit Belgium on the 30th of November 2024.

Mudokwan’s Brussels Indoor Open never failed to please. More so this year, with Olympic Bronze medalist Sarah Chaari making a presence.

ITL’s team comprised 14 players, including three debutants. Between them, they collected 11 medals (two golds, three silvers and six bronze medals).

Their efforts shot saw them finish twelfth, amongst 75 teams.

The golds came from Eva Mifsud Calleja and Gianluca Barbara, who competed in the kids and masters division.

Eva played a stunning final having turned the game around after a first-round loss. She returned to the field with immense fighting spirit, winning the second and third rounds with a convincing margin.

Gianluca competed in the Masters +80kg category, winning his semi-final with a round score of 2:0 against his Italian opponent. He would later be declared the winner of the final by walkover.

Dwayne Micallef (kids -24kg) and Emma Lautier (kids -27kg) both claimed hard-fought silvers in their respective sets. Emma triumphed over three fights, losing with a narrow margin in the final (1:2). Dwayne, conversely, won his semi-final fight and lost in the final of his group.

Oliver Gatt (kids -36kg) also lost in his respective final, bowing out with a silver medal to his name and ITL’s.

Sherzod Bazarov (cadet -53kg), Emma Gellel (cadet -36kg) and her sister, Nina Gellel (kids -40kg) all made their international debut. Despite fighting very well in their respective quarter finals, they lost to their Belgian opponents, claiming a podium spot at third place.

Ella Schembri and Kieran Vella, both kids, also competed against advanced fighters, claiming a bronze in the kids -33kg and -24kg respectively.

The last bronze medal came from Czarek Odlaniki, who represented ITL in the Senior +87kg category. Czarek lost to a French opponent in the quarter-final.

Senior and junior players Ashik Sunil Bindhu and Fergeson Galea, and kids player Dailen Barbara took the field on the day and missed out on a medal, having lost in the opening rounds of the set despite fighting well.

The team was led by coach Gianluca, with the assistance of Fergeson, Ashik and Czaro (all of whom assisted in coaching duties) and attended by families that made a wholesome contingent of 33 persons.

Set in the beautiful city of Brussels, the event even allowed for some downtime, including an outdoor excursion at the famed Grand Place.