Malta’s Alycia Cassar showcases world-class potential in Tashkent

The Malta Taekwondo Association proudly recognises the outstanding performance of our athlete, Alycia Cassar, for her recent participation at the prestigious Junior World Taekwondo Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

On 17 April Alycia competed against some of the world’s leading junior athletes, delivering a performance that reflected her dedication, resilience, and high level of skill.

In her opening match, Alycia faced a formidable opponent in Tunisian athlete Istabrak Miraoui, a two-time Tunisian champion and current Arab champion. The bout began with a strong start from the Tunisian, who secured the first round with two well-executed body shots.

Showing resilience and composure, Alycia responded impressively in the second round. She took control of the match with sharp tactics and precise headshots, creating a clear gap on the scoreboard and levelling the contest.

The third and final round proved to be a tense and tactical battle. Both athletes displayed high-level awareness, with neither managing to score for the majority of the round. However, in the closing seconds, a quick exchange saw Miraoui edge ahead by 2–0 with just four seconds remaining. Despite Alycia’s efforts, time ran out before she could respond, resulting in a narrow and hard-fought loss.

Although the result did not go in her favour, Alycia’s performance on such a major stage is a testament to her growth, discipline, and competitive spirit. Going toe-to-toe with athletes at this level and pushing the match to the final seconds reflects her potential and determination.

Alycia Cassar

Iron Taekwondo League would also like to acknowledge Coach Ditmir Vodinaj, who guided Alycia throughout the competition.

We are incredibly proud of Alycia’s achievement in representing Malta at this level and are confident that this experience will serve as a strong foundation for her future in the sport.