#98: The Rising Stars II: International Taekwondo Excellence on Display at the Maltese Open

On the 13 December, 2025, the Maltese Taekwondo community proudly hosted The Rising Stars II, a dynamic international open tournament that brought together emerging and established talent from across the Mediterranean. The event took place at Chiswick House School, which provided an intimate yet vibrant setting perfectly suited for high-level competitive sport.

The tournament welcomed seven clubs from five countries, highlighting the growing international reach and appeal of Maltese Taekwondo. Participating clubs included:

• Iron Taekwondo League (Malta)

• Strive Taekwondo (Malta)

• Taekwondo Invictus (Italy)

• Brindisi Gold (Italy)

• Trinacria Taekwondo Team (Italy)

• Studenti Klub (Albania)

• ISM (Libya)

Across the course of the day, a total of 65 matches were contested on a single central court, surrounded by seating on all sides. This arena-style setup created an engaging atmosphere, allowing spectators, coaches, and athletes to experience the action up close while fostering a strong sense of community and sportsmanship.

The Rising Stars II catered to a broad range of age categories, with divisions for children, kids, cadets, juniors, and seniors. This inclusive structure ensured valuable competitive exposure for young athletes at the start of their journey, while also offering high-quality bouts among more experienced competitors.

The matches demonstrated not only technical skill and athleticism, but also discipline, respect, and the core values of Taekwondo.

The event ran efficiently and smoothly, a testament to the organisation and collaboration between officials, volunteers, and participating clubs.

Coaches praised the tournament for its professional standards, fair competition, and supportive environment, making it an ideal platform for athlete development.

The Rising Stars II reaffirmed Malta’s ability to host well-organised international Taekwondo events and underlined the island’s growing role within the regional Taekwondo landscape. With strong participation, quality competition, and a positive atmosphere throughout, the tournament stands as a successful chapter in the ongoing development of Taekwondo in Malta and beyond.

Rising Stars II Podium Placings

Children, Male, -20 kg (B)

1. Khalil Radwan (MLT)

2. Giorgios Propasthopoulos (MLT)

Children, Male, -22 kg (B)

1. Abdulrahman, M. (LBY)

2. Noah Barbara (MLT)

Children, Male, -24 kg (B)

1. Claudio Truppi (ITA)

2. Jack Zarb (MLT)

3. Christian D’Amico (ITA) & Bradley Micallef (MLT)

Children, Male, -26 kg (B)

1. Henry Cachia (MLT)

2. Jamie Zarb (MLT)

3. Matthew Vella (MLT)

Children, Male, -28 kg (A)

1. Romanazzi, Simone (ITA)

2. Giorgio Armonica (ITA)

3. Tyas Mifsud Calleja (MLT)

Children, Male, -30 kg (B)

1. Matthias Muscat Parry (MLT)

2. Ben Gatt (MLT)

3. Mohammed Elfargani (LBY) & Teodor Palalic (MLT)

Children, Male, -33 kg (B)

1. Vincenzo Pisano Daggiano (ITA)

2. Giorgio Marchese (ITA)

3. Samuel Sepulveda Coca (MLT) & Fahed Ans Omar (LBY)

Children, Male, +34 kg (B)

1. Davide Diana (ITA)

2. Diego Riolo (MLT)

Children, Female, -24 kg (B)

1. Giulia Corrazzino (ITA)

2. Alaya Shembesh Gatt (MLT)

Kids, Male, -30 kg (A)

1. Abdullah Alfirjani Mahir (LBY)

2. Nicola Barletta (ITA)

3. Zach Zammit (MLT)

Kids, Male, -36 (A)

1. Oliver Gatt (MLT)

2. Zak Kitcher Deguara (MLT)

3. Justin Chenjia Tam (MLT)

Kids, Male, -36 kg (B)

1. Aleksei Lukin (MLT)

2. Thomas Rollo (ITA)

3. Tommy Grech (MLT)

Kids, Male, -40 kg (A)

1. Noah Kitcher Deguara (MLT)

2. Firayaad Abdela (MLT)

3. Aboudib Abdullhafid A.R. (LBY) & Gabriele Corrazzino (ITA)

Kids, Male, -44 kg (A)

1. Omar Ans Omar (LBY)

2. Aiden Abela Taylor (MLT)

Kids, Male, -52 kg (A)

1. Aleksandros Litviakov (MLT)

2. Taher Zawia, H. M. (LBY)

Kids, Male, -52 kg (B)

1. Aiden Abela Taylor (MLT)

2. Jaime Brincat (MLT)

Kids, Female, -30 kg (A)

1. Gaia Di Benedetto (ITA)

2. Flavia Strabace (ITA)

Kids, Female, -30 kg (B)

1. Poppy Ward Bonnici (MLT)

2. Miriam Barcellona (ITA)

Kids, Female, -36 kg (B)

1. Alyanna De Leon (MLT)

2. Ruth Cutajar (MLT)

Kids, Female, -40 kg (A)

1. Aisha Shembesh Gatt (MLT)

2. Ella Schembri (MLT)

3. Ajdini Enluida (ALB)

Kids, Female, -44 kg (A)

1. Eva Mifsud Calleja (MLT)

2. Nina Gellel (MLT)

Kids, Female, -48 kg (B)

1. Matilda Folegotto (ITA)

2. Jasmine Bonnici Ward (MLT)

Cadets, Male, -41 kg (A)

1. Abdul Hafid (LBY)

2. Ahmed Saeid Younas (LBY)

3. Kevin Valenti (ITA)

Cadets, Male, -49 kg (A)

1. Matteo Cassar (MLT)

2. Alexandros Litviakov (MLT)

Cadets, Male, -53 kg (A)

1. Robin Zammit (MLT)

2. James Lee (MLT)

3. Andrew Catania (MLT)

Cadets, Male, -57 kg (A)

1. Brayden Micallef (MLT)

2. Salvatore Antonio D’Errico (ITA)

Cadets, Male, -65 kg (A)

1. Gabriele Rametta (ITA)

2. Luke Chircop (MLT)

Cadets, Male, +65 kg (B)

1. Mattia Longo (ITA)

2. Nazar Baranishyn (MLT)

3. Salvatore Riolo (MLT)

Cadets, Female, -47 kg (A)

1. Ajlina Goga (ALB)

2. Anastasia Lukiina (MLT)

3. Yara Zanzariello (ITA) & Sabina Latino (ITA)

Cadets, Female, -51 kg (A)

1. Miriam Fogetti (ITA)

2. Kendra Magro (MLT)

3. Elisa Mollicone (MLT)

Juniors, Male, -59 kg (A)

1. Samuel Vella (MLT)

2. Simone Sparacino (ITA)

Juniors, Male, -63 kg (A)

1. Tommaso Truppi (ITA)

2. Luke Chircop (MLT)

3. Nathan Degiorgio (MLT)

Juniors, Male, -78 kg (B)

1. Giorgio Gigliola (ITA)

2. Alex Attard (MLT)

Juniors, Female, -63 kg (A)

1. Alycia Cassar (MLT)

2. Sofia Sortino (ITA)

Seniors, Male, -63 kg (A)

1. Tommaso Truppi (ITA)

2. Fergeson Galea (MLT)

Seniors, Male, -80 kg (A)

1. Czarek Odlanicki Poczobutt (MLT)

2. Marco Di Trapani (ITA)

Seniors, Male, -80 kg (B)

1. Mohammed Abed (MLT)

2. Emanuele Todaro (ITA)

Seniors, Female, -67 kg (A)

1. Merobika Abdela (MLT)

2. Sima Mifsud Calleja (MLT)

3. Nia Tabakova (MLT) & Elisa Scerri (MLT)