Watch: Karate’s Jessica Vella wins Team Malta’s first gold medal at 2025 GSSE

Jessica Vella won Team Malta’s first gold medal at the Games of the Small States of Europe after winning the Kata event in karate.

The young athlete remained unbeaten throughout the whole competition, as after topping Group B, she went on to secure victory in the semi-final and final to hand Team Malta its first success in the Games.

The second medal in the sport came from Ibrahim Halil Koska who had to settle for bronze in the +84kg category.

Vella’s gold is a major boost for the Maltese contingent, who are bidding to win at least nine gold medals and record their best-ever result in a foreign GSSE.

The previous best result was eight gold medals at the 2011 edition in Liechtenstein.

“I am proud to have won Malta’s first-ever gold medal in Karate at the Games as this is the first time our sport is being included in the programme of events in a GSSE,” Vella told the Times of Malta.

“I am delighted with my performance today as I worked really hard for this success along with my coaches Michelle and Matthew Vella, and hopefully there is more to come for Team Malta.”

On her part, Michelle Muscat, who is the mother and coach of Jessica, could not her pride at the performance of her daughter.

“Jessica fully deserves this medal as she worked so hard for it,” she said.

“She is a very meticulous athlete who works very hard and is very consistent in her performances. Jessica has competed in many international competitions and that experience helped her today and we are so proud of her.”

The Kata competition saw the participating athletes split into two groups as Vella was drawn in Group B.

Vella opened the competition against Liechtenstein athlete Aileen Sprenger and came out on top with her routine when she received 37.8 points against her opponent’s 33.8.

Vella was equally dominant in her second group match when she overcame Monaco’s Cecille Orrigo 37.3-32.7.

That secured Vella’s place in the semi-finals she was up against Andorra’s Maria Ubiergo and the Maltese athlete came out on top 38.4-36.8.

In the gold medal final, Vella was up against Mila Mrakovic, of Montenegro, and managed to edge out her opponent 39.1-37.8 to spark the celebrations of the Maltese contingent.

In the +84kg category, Koska was off to a flier as he thrashed Thimothy Cesa, of Monaco 8-0 and then drew with Montenegro’s Nemanja Jovocic 0-0.

In the semi-final, Koska was involved in a tight duel with San Marino’s Emanuel Magnelli and was hit late on to lose the bout 1-0 and settle with bronze.

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