#57: ITL Fighters With Gold And Bronze In Wales

Two ITL Seniors made the long journey to Cardiff for the 4th Wales International Championships, bringing back a gold and two bronze medals.

The competition took place on the 30th of June 2024 and was attended by ITL and RTA athlete Ashik Sunil (26), together with coach Gianluca Barbara (35). Both played in the - 74 kg Senior A category, but Gianluca played in a second category: Masters - 80 kg.

The Maltese were accompanied by legendary coach Steven Turner (UK), best known for his work with the Great Britain national team and record-breaking athlete Aaron Cook.

Ashik Sunil Bindhu (left) and Gianluca Barbara (right).

Masters - 80 kg: Gold

Steven Turner (left) and Gianluca Barbara (right) during the Masters - 80kg final.

Gianluca started in the semi-final, drawing athlete Finian Bout (UK) from T-TKD to win comfortably with a 2:0 round score.

In the final, Gianluca faced renowned British athlete Yamie Guba, a + 87 kg athlete whose group was merged with the - 80 kg. Yamie is well known for his participation in the 2019 Taekwondo World Championships, wherein he represented Malawi.

After scoring a last-second punch and finishing round one at 5-5, Gianluca clinched a win by scoring the only headshot.

Yamie Guba (left) and Gianluca Barbara (right).

Come round two, Gianluca scored three headshots in succession, putting the score comfortably in his favour.

He won the final with a round score of 2:0, earning the team’s first gold medal.

This gold medal became the fourth successive international gold for Gianluca, following wins in Belgium (Brussels), Belgium (Liege), and France (Lot et Garonne).

Seniors - 74 kg: Bronze And Bronze

Ashik Sunil Bindhu

Ashik Sunil Bindhu at the Wales International Open 2024

Ashik, who was coached by Gianluca, met Aspire TKD’s Kyle Morgan (UK) in the Quarter-Final. The match was closely contested and featured numerous headshots.

The UK athlete got the better of Ashik in the first round, but in round two, Ashik made a stunning comeback to even the score.

Ashik then led the game in round three, winning comfortably to secure his place on the podium.

Ashik advanced to the Semi-Final, where he would play South Ham’s Aaron McArdle (UK), but problems arose when Ashik was caught limping off the mat.

An immediate medical survey flagged a potential fracture in Ashik’s foot, ruling him out of the Semi-Final. His competitive adventure would end with third place.

Gianluca Barbara

Coach Steven Turner (left) and Gianluca Barbara (right).

Gianluca played his second category and drew Buzz TKD’s Jayden Lawrence in the Quarter Final, winning the first round 11-1 and the second, 3-0.

He then advanced to the Semi-final, where he faced LMC’s Paul Iestyn (19), a Great Britain development team athlete who medaled in several international competitions, including a silver in the most recent British national Open.

In the first round, Gianluca scored with three punches to win 3-2. Iestyn, however, turned the game around in round two, scoring with two well-placed front-leg headshots to win with a score of 8-2.

Points flew in round three, as more hard punches landed from Gianluca’s side, while another two carefully timed headshots landed from Iestyn’s.

Paul Iestyn (red), Gianluca Barbara (blue) and Steven Turner (coach).

Eventually, the score went against the Maltese, who lost with a score of 9-6. This left Gianluca with bronze; the team’s third medal. Iestyn, would then move on to the final and win with a round score of 2:0.

Another Successful Showing

ITL’s latest medal haul came off the back of another podium finish; by Michela Scerri at the European Club Championship in Albania.

This time round, two seniors were able to compete abroad, thanks to the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation which made Ashik’s participation in this competition possible.

The club can’t help but thank Steven Turner, whose assistance, advice, and on-site coaching made this result possible. Turner conducted two training camps in Malta, in August and December of 2023, cultivating a strong friendship with the club and national association.

ITL also extends its thanks to South Hams Taekwondo Plymouth (coach Dave Desforges) and Yamie Guba, who assisted the athletes on the day with warmth and kindness.

And finally, a big thanks goes to Masters Paul Jones and Jo Draper, of Wales Taekwondo, whose sublime management of the competition made it one to remember.

You can catch highlights of one of Gianluca’s fight by clicking here, while all results can be accessed by clicking here.