Malta’s ‘karate kids’ fare well in Sicily

The Maltese karatekas contingent at the fifth Trofeo Pelicone in Syracuse, Sicily, returned home with seven medals and a spate of top-10 placings in various categories.

The Trofeo Pelicano, held earlier this month, saw the participation of 600 athletes from north and south Italian regions besides Malta.

The Maltese group was made up of athletes from the Fgura Karate Club and Pembroke Karate Club.

They were accompanied by officials from the Malta Karate Federation, namely Sensei Joe Tanti and Sensei Michelle Vella.

The Maltese clubs were able to take part in the Trofeo Pelicone through their membership with the Malta Karate Federation, a direct affiliate of the World Karate Federation as well as the Maltese Olympic Committee.

The most successful athletes for the Maltese clubs were Steve Gilson (first); Travis Sciberras (first); Thomas Galea (second); Matthew Vella (third); Jake Dalli (third); Annabel Vella (third); and Julia Vella (fifth).

The others in the group were Neil Abela, Keelan Azzopardi, Dana Borg, Kyle Borg, Jacob Camilleri, Alexia Chloe Caruana, Matteo Caruana Bond, Joelle Farrugia, Amy Gilson, Owen Marlow, Sean Micallef, Melanie Pace, Melvin Pace, Thomas Pisani and Gaby Xuereb.