A team of eight athletes from the Maltese Karate school SKSM Malta won no less than nine medals in an International Karate competition which was held in Sheffield, England.

Seventeen countries participated in the Ama international karate championship. The team was led by official Chris Galea, Head of SKSM Karate Malta

The team members who participated were Lucienne Galea, David Parsonage, Andrew Galea, Liam Tanti, Deelan Vassallo, Jake Sant, Liam Gauci and Ted Owen. The vast majority of the Maltese athletes were competing internationally for the first time.

Lucienne Galea took part in two categories, “Kata Seniors“ and “Open Kata“. Galea, won the first two gold medals for the SKSM Malta team after giving a brilliant performance in both categories where 20 athletes from different countries in each category contested.

This was enough to encourage to other Maltese athletes who were next to compete. Andrew Galea, a Maltese prominent Karate-ka had difficult rounds to clear before reaching the bouts where medals were contested. He ended up the competition with a remarkable personal total of four medals for the Malta team, two Gold, one Silver and a Bronze totalling the number of Maltese medals to six..

The first timer Deelan Vassallo also marked his name and with another two medals, one silver and one bronze, in the Kumite up to 12yrs and 13 yrs plus categories. Liam Gauci won last medal after achieving bronze in the Freestyle category.

The school is currently preparing another team under the guidance of coach Chris Galea, in preparation for a bigger International tournament in Russia in a few weeks time and also for the Worlds Seniors Championships in Scotland.

This year the school will be visiting a total of seven countries across Europe to compete internationally.