#115: Four ITL Youngsters Bag Big Wins And Medal In Rome

Rome’s Kim e Liu tournament saw lightest-ever team ITL has ever fielded: Dwayne (Kids -27 kg), Tyas (Children -27 kg), Dias (Children -24 kg) and Noah (Beginners -23 kg), together with our French companion, Souleymane (Kids -33 kg).

Light they may have been, but their presence, courage and personality could be felt for miles. Despite their age and size, all five took part in what was probably the most difficult — yet most rewarding — experience of their taekwondo journey so far.

At the prestigious Kim e Liu Tournament in Rome — the Eternal City — right beside the Grand Prix hall where the world’s best athletes were seeking glory, the boys competed in an event that welcomed around 1,500 athletes from across the globe. Each category featured between 28 and 35 competitors, all carrying the tools and ambition required to reach the podium.

It would be Tyas who ultimately secured a place among the medallists, claiming a bronze medal after defeating Giovanni Longo 2–0 in the Round of 16 and F. Tirone, again by a 2–0 margin, in the quarter-final. He advanced to the semi-final, where his excellent run was halted by N. Menza following a hard-fought contest.

Dwayne also enjoyed a phenomenal campaign, competing in one of the most populated categories of the tournament. He dazzled onlookers with dominant victories in both the Round of 16 and R8 stages, winning comfortably through point gaps.

He would then progress to an impressive quarter-final encounter against G. Minutolo, losing the opening round to a last-second score before responding superbly to win the second. Dwayne ultimately fell by a narrow margin in the deciding third round, bringing an outstanding performance to an end just short of the semi-finals.

The club also fielded Dias in the Children’s -24 kg category, where he drew R. Turrisi in the Round of 16. Despite an emphatic and courageous performance from the ITL youngster, he was unable to overcome the Italian and did not advance further.

The occasion also marked the international debut of Noah, who stepped onto the mat at just six years of age and drew A. Barreca in the Round of 16. Overcoming the emotions and pressure that come with such an occasion, Noah produced a spirited display before being stopped by the Italian with scores of 18–12 and 10–5 in a hard-fought match.

Finally, the club’s French counterpart, Souleymane, took to the field in the Kids -33 kg category. Despite a strong performance against C. Manga in the Round of 16, he narrowly missed out on victory in a closely contested opener.

While only one medal made its way back home, the results tell only part of the story. What these young athletes achieved over the course of the weekend extended far beyond wins and losses. They travelled together, trained together, supported one another and learned what it means to be part of a team at the highest level of youth competition.

As a coach, I could not be prouder of this group. It was a genuine pleasure to guide them through this experience and to watch the bonds between them grow stronger with every challenge they faced. They showed courage in defeat, humility in success and maturity beyond their years. More importantly, they represented our club with distinction both on and off the mats.

This team is the future of our club. The lessons they learned in Rome will stay with them for years to come, and I have no doubt that this experience will be the first of many on their journey. For now, they return home richer in experience, stronger in character and closer as teammates — and that, in many ways, is the greatest victory of all.