#108: Iron Taekwondo Competes At Skopje Open G1
The Iron Taekwondo League (ITL), with of Coach Gianluca Barbara, proudly fielded three junior athletes at the prestigious Skopje Open G1, held on the 4th of April 2026 at the Boris Trajkovski Sport Centre.
Representing ITL were Brayden Micallef (Junior Male -55kg), Michela Scerri (Junior Female -46kg), and Jean Schembri (Junior Male -45kg), each showcasing determination and high-level performance against strong international opposition.
Jean Schembri delivered an impressive opening performance, securing a dominant victory over his Macedonian opponent to progress to the quarter-finals. There, he faced Serbia’s David Kukic, a multiple European-grade medalist. In what proved to be a thrilling contest, both athletes claimed a round apiece.
Schembri produced a standout moment with a sensational spinning head kick that connected cleanly from beneath the midline. Despite his strong showing, he narrowly missed out on victory after the Serbian edged through with a third round win.
Michela Scerri faced Montenegro’s Lana Baletic in her opening bout. Demonstrating excellent tactical control and skill, Scerri was comfortably leading on points. However, an accumulation of gam-jeoms resulted in the loss of the first round. Despite continuing to display high-quality taekwondo, she was unable to recover in the second round and ultimately conceded the match.
Brayden Micallef competed in his first internationally ranked event, facing Spain’s M. Garcia Galdon. In an intense and competitive bout, Micallef showed great promise by taking a round with a well-executed spinning head kick. His performance marked an encouraging debut on the international stage.
Looking ahead, the Iron Taekwondo League continues its busy international schedule. The club will next be represented at the upcoming World Taekwondo Junior Championships, before traveling to Madrid, Spain, where Coach Gianluca will deliver a high-level training camp. The team will then return to competition at the Asteriks G1 in Niš, Serbia.
The Skopje Open G1 served as another important stepping stone for ITL athletes, highlighting their progress and readiness to compete at the highest levels of junior taekwondo.
