Team Ireland claimed two unanimous decision wins on the opening day of the Women’s European Championships in Budva, Montenegro.
The first Irish boxers in the ring was 54kg Niamh Fay – Niamh was a European Youth champion, and claimed European U22 gold earlier this year. She contested decisively against Italy’s Sirine Charaabi in bout four of the tournament. She got the 5-0 decision (26:29, 25:30, 26:29, 26:29, 26:29) and is next in action against Ukraine’s Anastasiia Kovalchuk in Sunday’s afternoon session.
Reigning Olympic lightweight champ, and 2018 European championships medallist, Kellie Harrington, met France’s Maiva Hamadouche, 2019 silver medallist, in bout 9, and came away with a 5-0 win (30:27
30:27, 30:27, 30:25, 30:27) Kellie is back in the ring in bout 8 of Saturday’s evening session, against Ozer Gizem of Turkey.
Also in action are Commonwealth Games silver medallist at 50kg, 52kgCarly McNaul, who opens her account in bout 3 of the afternoon session against Ana Alexandra Gheorghe of Romania; while Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion, Micheala Walsh, who had a 1st round preliminaries bye – gets underway against France’s Amina Zidani, in bout 8 of tomorrow’s afternoon session.
31 nations and 164 boxers are taking part, in all, from: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.
Day Two programme
Watch Session Two here:
Watch Session Three here
Team Ireland Squad
48kg: Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s, Mayo
50kg: Caitlin Fryers, Immaculata BC, Belfast
52kg: Carly McNaul, Ormeau Road BC, Belfast
54kg: Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
57kg: Michaela Walsh, Emerald BC, Belfast
60kg: Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Dublin
63kg: Amy Broadhurst, St. Bronagh’s ABC, Newry
66kg: Kaci Rock, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
70kg: Christina Desmond, Dungarvan BC/Garda BC
75kg: Aoife O’Rourke, Olympic BC, Galway
Coaches:
Zauri Antia
John Conlan
Dmitrij Dmitruk
Eoin Pluck
Physio
Rob Tuomey.
Drawsheets for Team Ireland are here
Session one results:
Competition schedule