Our sparring team competed in London on Saturday, 6th April, at the Aquila Open 2024.
This competition was planned as another experience for our athletes to mature and nurture their confidence, especially in light of the opportunity given to them by MTA to compete in the 2nd European Small States Championships in Estonia in the coming days.
Luke Chircop, cadet -57, disputed 3 fights in his category, winning his quarter-final 2-0 and semi-final 2-1. He conceded the final 2-0 with close point gaps in each round. Luke’s fighting performance evolved as his confidence improved. With each fight, you could see (1) his fighting spirit rising, (2) his confidence portrayed in his continuous polished strategy, and (3) the meaning and weight behind every action.
Nathan Degiorgio, junior -51, went in a heavier category than his norm of -55, which aimed to polish his strategy to potentially soon reach his normal weight. Due to limited entry participation, Nathan went straight to the final against an opponent almost double his height. It was truly a challenge for Nathan, who managed to win the first round and conceded the last two rounds with a loss of 2-1. This fight was a fruitful lesson for Nathan, as his persistence polished his fighting strategy against taller opponents that showed the importance of (1) fighting at a close distance and (2) the importance of the first shot and second one to close the distance and fill the gaps while still maintaining an effective guard.
Their fights were truly a memorable sight, with plenty of lessons taken back home and two silver medals.
Onto better training, onto the next opportunity!