#89: Team Malta Continues Its Strong Run at the Riga Open G1

Just two days after their success at the European Games of Small States, Team Malta returned to the mats in Riga, Latvia, to compete in the prestigious Riga Open G1 — a graded World Taekwondo event that brought together elite athletes from across Europe and beyond.

Despite the short turnaround and the step up in level, the Maltese athletes once again rose to the occasion, showing courage, quality, and resilience under pressure. Led by Coach Gianluca Barbara, the team earned two silver medals, confirming Malta’s growing presence on the European Taekwondo circuit.

Team Malta comprised: Alyicia Cassar (junior - 63kg), Michela Scerri (junior -46kg), Luke Chircop (junior -63kg) and Jean Schembri (cadet -41kg).

Alycia Cassar – Silver Medal

Fresh off her gold medal from the Small States Games, Alycia continued her excellent form.

She opened her campaign with a dominant point-gap victory over Iceland, showing sharp movement and precise scoring. In the semi-final, she faced Lisa Vorsch from Luxembourg, once again controlling the match with authority and winning 2–0 in rounds.

In the final, Alycia met Luna Fellinger from Germany in what turned out to be one of the most exciting matches of the day — an intense battle featuring aggressive front-leg exchanges and dynamic spinning techniques from both sides. Although Alycia ultimately lost, she secured another well-deserved silver medal after a brilliant display of skill and determination.

Michela Scerri – Silver Medal

Michela showed fantastic fighting spirit throughout the competition.
In her semi-final, she overcame Estonia in a thrilling and physical encounter. The two won a round-a-piece before Michela trumped the Estonian her aggressive pace.

In the final, she once again faced the Montenegrin athlete Tara Sljivancanin, whom she had met in the final just days earlier at the Small States Games. This time, Michela pushed her opponent to the limit — reducing the margin and forcing her into difficult positions during critical exchanges.

Although she narrowly missed out on victory, she earned a well-fought silver medal and the respect of everyone watching.

Jean Schembri & Luke Chircop

For Jean Schembri and Luke Chircop, the G1 presented a tougher challenge against more experienced international competitors.
Jean lost his opening match against Denmark, while Luke was defeated by Lithuania.

Both bouts served as valuable experiences that will contribute to their continued development at this higher level of competition.

Every match at G1 level is a test of both skill and mindset, and both athletes showed determination and commitment throughout — qualities that will strengthen them in the months ahead.

Progress

With two silver medals in a highly competitive international field, Team Malta once again demonstrated that the island nation is capable of standing toe-to-toe with Europe’s strongest.

Regardless of the wins and loses, team displayed exceptional attitude, teamwork, and professionalism throughout both tournaments.

Competing in back-to-back events - and medaling in both - is a remarkable achievement that reflects their growing consistency and class.

The experience gained in Riga will serve as another important step forward as Team Malta continues its pursuit of excellence on the European stage.