#85: ITL Scores In Tallinn With Grand Prix And Euro Club Championship Events
ITL had a busy weekend in Tallinn, Estonia that lasted from the 8th till the 15th April 2025, featuring multiple events… and a few medals.
The week began with the Junior Grand Prix, where Michela Scerri took part in the - 42 kg Junior Female together with coach Ditmir Vodinaj. Michela entered the group as the number 1 seed.
Michela Scerri in the Junior Grand Prix.
Michela drew Spain’s Daniela Jimenez Lopez (match 407) in her quarterfinal and unfortunately lost with a narrow margin with a 2:0 round score.
There was, however, more to play for.
ITL Junior Alycia Cassar (Junior, Female, - 59 kg) joined Michela (who bumped up to Junior, Female, - 44 kg) in Tallinn for the next edition of the European Club Championships.
Five ITL kids were also selected for the competition: Eva Mifsud Calleja, Ella Schembri, Emma Law Lautier, Dwayne Micallef and Oliver Gatt; together with their coach Gianluca Barbara.
Michela registered a strong performance in her - 44 kg debut, with a convincing win over Montenegro in the opening round followed by an even more impressive showing against the third seed of the category - Armenia’s Melanie Ayvya. Michela won the match once again with a round score of 2:0.
ITL’s Michela Scerri (blue) together with coach Ditmir Vodinaj (black).
Michela faced Turkey in the next round, but unfortunately lost with a round score of 2:0.
Next to play was Alycia, who edged past Croatia in the Female - 59 kg category with a round score of 2:1. She then faced the experienced Fatima Mendy (FRA) in the next round and lost with a round score of 2:0.
Alycia Cassar in the European Club Championships.
ITL’s young guns took the field, with Emma Lautier (Female - 27 kg), Ella Schembri (Female - 36 kg) and Eva Mifsud Calleja (Female - 40 kg) taking part in the competition.
Emma Lautier in the European Club Championships.
Emma faced Montenegro in the opening round of the tournament, leading for the majority of the first round until a well placed headshot in the final seconds of the match cost her the round. She picked up the pace in the second round, but unfortunately, Montenegro’s Nejra Dervisevic was able to defend her lead carefully to seal her win.
Ella was next to play, drawing Ukraine’s Tetiana Pikhurets in the Quarter Final. Despite a hard-fought effort, Ella lost the match with a round score of 2:0.
Ella Schembri in the European Club Championships.
Eva was the final female contestant on the day. She drew Bosnia’s Sara Milicevic and won convincingly with a round score of 2:0. She became the first player to make it to the final of her respective set, drawing Ukraine’s Viktoria Hrytkso, who advanced after defeating Germany in her own semi-final.
It was a difficult match for the Maltese, who despite fighting hard lost the final over two rounds, but claimed the silver medal of her group.
The results can be accessed by clicking here.
Eva Mifsud Calleja in the European Club Championships.
Dwayne and Oliver took part in the competition the very next day.
Oliver drew Ireland in the Semi Final of the boys - 33 kg, losing the game over two rounds.
From left to right: Dwayne Micallef, Oliver Gatt and Gianluca Barbara.
Oliver’s semi-final loss meant the team’s second medal, this time bronze.
Dwayne would later play in his own group, registering a huge win over Spain in the first match. He advanced to the Quarter Final and won a second time. This time against Ukraine, sealing a podium finish for the Maltese.
Dwayne Micallef in the European Club Championships.
In the semi-final, Dwayne then drew Azerbaijani Farid Maliki. The match got off to a hot start with plenty of high-paced presses, head kicks and spinning shots. Maliki, however, won both rounds.
He would later face his own brother in the final and win the group.
Dwayne would walk off with a well-earned bronze medal.
The results can be accessed by clicking here.
Dwayne Micallef and Oliver Gatt with their medals.
The overall haul for the week was three medals; two bronze and one silver won by Oliver Gatt, Dwayne Micallef and Eva Mifsud Calleja. If not only for medals, the event was an important one that came with a wealth of experience for ITL’s athletes, many of whom debuted in a continental event, or entered a new category.
The week was just getting started, with another ITL contingent later traveling to Manchester for an intensive training camp with the national team of Great Britain, to further bolster their fighting experience.
On behalf of the coaches and administration, ITL thanks the Malta Taekwondo Association and SportMalta for making these events possible, and congratulates its athletes and coaches for their relentless work and dedication to training.
