Maltese wrestlers achieved notable success at the Open Freestyle Championships in Ireland last week, marking their first appearance in the competition. The event, held under the invitation of the Irish Wrestling Federations, featured athletes from Poland, Ukraine, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Team Malta was represented by Gary Giordimaina in the 61kg seniors category, Nico Zarb in 74kg seniors, and Adam Vassallo in the 68kg U15 division. The team was coached by Jesmond Giordimaina, with referee Abraham Vassallo accompanying the group. Cedric Vella was also scheduled to compete but withdrew due to a minor injury.
Giordimaina delivered a commanding performance in the 61kg category, defeating four different opponents to claim the gold medal. He opened with a points victory over Eddie Burns, followed by a pin against Kris Martin. Giordimaina continued his dominance with a points win over Javed Agha before securing the title with a final pin against Max Gibson. Despite sustaining a minor injury in his first match, Giordimaina remained focused and performed convincingly throughout the tournament.
In the 74kg seniors division, Nico Zarb began with a strong victory over Josh Kennedy and followed with a points win against Ali Assad. Zarb’s campaign ended in the third bout when he lost to Serhii Skvarcha on points and was eliminated from contention.
For 68kg U15 wrestler Adam Vassallo, this was his second international experience. Vassallo started with a pin victory over Alexander Frank and then defeated Arsenii Horobets by pin in the second round. In the final, he fell to Alexsandr Mangutov, earning the silver medal.
The performances of the Maltese wrestlers reflect the growing strength of the sport in Malta and the potential of young athletes competing at an international level. Team Malta is now preparing for the upcoming Bridgepoint Open in Malta, which will take place at the Marsa Sports Complex on 15 November 2025.
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