#66: ITL Hits Dracula Open, Secures One Bronze

A small ITL team comprising four players and one coach hit Bucharest, Romania for the next edition of the Dracula Open, and came back with one bronze medal.

Fergeson Galea (junior, male, -55 kg), Robin Zammit (cadet, male, -41 kg), Jean Schembri (cadet, male, -37 kg) and Michela Scerri (junior, female, -42 kg) accompanied coach Ditmir Vodinaj to the tournament, which took place on the 26th October 2024.

From left to right: Fergeson Galea, Jean Schembri, Ditmir Vodinaj, Robin Zammit and Michela Scerri.

Robin opened the day (match 311) having drawn Hungarian athlete Borsos in the round of 32. He registered a convincing first-round win, scoring a great headshot in the opening seconds of the round and maintaining the pace to keep the score 15-10. Borsos, however, turned the game around in round 2, winning the round to even the playing field.

The Hungarian eventually got the better of the Maltese in round 3.

Maltese cadet Jean Schembri played next (match 217), drawing Romanian Bulancea in the round of 16. Jean fought with tremendous spirit, registering an 11-1 win in the first round and a 12-1 win in the second.

He would play again in match 224, this time drawing Ukrainian athlete Rabchuk. Jean held his own for a considerable section of the match, even leading for the first minute of the first round. However, Rabchuk turned the game around and opened the score-line with successive well-placed shots. The Ukrainian would claim both rounds to advance to the quarterfinals.

Fergeson played next in match 431, drawing Spanish athlete Arnay (Round of 32). The match proved to be a difficult encounter for the young Maltese, who did not meet the aggressive pace of his opponent. Fergeson lost the game with a round score of 2:0.

Michela would play next (as the first seed), having come off recent World Championships and European Grand Prix Qualifier tournaments. She faced Italian athlete Sara Pireddu (match 154) in the quarter final with calm, class and experience. She won the fight with a round-score of 2:0 to secure the podium and play in the semi-final.

In the semi-final (164), Michela then faced Anna Criscuolo, another Italian athlete in the division. Despite a hard-fought performance, the score went against the Maltese, who lost with a round-score of 2:0. Nevertheless, Michela bowed out with a bronze medal for her and the team.

With Michela as the sole medalist of the team, the club’s tally during the event was one bronze medal.

The venture became another important step in the development of the team as a whole, with another crucial experience pocketed by the cadet and junior team.

Our attention now turns to our last three events of the year, beginning with the Invitational Games of the Small States, due to take place at in mid-November.

A big shoutout also goes to fellow Maltese athletes, Luke Chircop, Nathan Degiorgio and Samuel Vella, who attended the Dracula Open with their coach Mauro Busuttil. Amongst them, Luke Chircop claimed a bronze medal after winning his QF fight.

On a final note, we would like to thank Sport Malta who’s financial assistance helped make this venture possible.