Six Iron Taekwondo League athletes returned to Malta with eight medals after competing at the Kixstar Open in Crawley, England.
The Malta-based club reported winning five gold medals, two silvers and one bronze during the competition at the K2 Arena on 2 August 2026. The delegation was accompanied by coach Gianluca Barbara.
Eight Medals Across Six Athletes
Dias Micallef finished the tournament with two gold medals.
He first won the Male Children B Class under-26kg final. The club said he later accepted an additional contest so another competitor who did not have an opponent could still take part. Dias won that match to claim his second gold.
Nina Gellel earned silver in the Female Cadet B Class under-47kg division following a two-round final. She then entered an additional contest outside her original category and won a gold medal.
Oliver Gatt claimed gold in the Male Cadet B Class under-37kg division after winning his final in two rounds.
Dwayne Micallef reached the medal stages of the Male Children A Class under-29kg competition and finished with bronze.
A Close Final For Six-Year-Old Noah Barbara
Six-year-old Noah Barbara won silver in the Male Peewee C Class under-22kg division.
He progressed through his semi-final before contesting a three-round final. After the competitors won one round each, the match was decided in the third round, which Noah narrowly lost 9–8.
The result gave Noah his first medal of the day and added a second silver to the club’s overall tally.
Brayden Micallef Adds Another Gold
Brayden Micallef initially competed in the Male Junior A Class under-55kg category, where he was eliminated in the quarter-final.
He was later invited to enter an additional junior contest against an athlete from Loughton Taekwondo. The Iron Taekwondo League report said Brayden won the two-round match and secured a gold medal.
Brayden also took part in a team-combat exhibition after the individual competition.
He joined four UK-based athletes in a combined selection facing a group of Team GB athletes. Gianluca Barbara helped coach the combined team alongside Mohammed Nour of New Generation Taekwondo. The Team GB selection won the exhibition match.
Extra Contests Added To The Medal Total
Three of the club’s athletes Dias Micallef, Nina Gellel and Brayden Micallef won medals through additional contests outside their original categories.
According to Iron Taekwondo League, these matches were arranged to give athletes who did not have an opponent an opportunity to compete.
Including those additional contests, the club’s final tally stood at five gold medals, two silvers and one bronze.
The Crawley tournament gave all six athletes another opportunity to face international opponents as the club continues its 2026 competition programme.
