EUROPEAN ELITE WOMEN’S FINALS

Michaela Walsh and Kellie Harrington will be presented with their medals at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

Both women reached the last-four and will be bringing home double bronze from the 11th edition of the tournament.

The Belfast and Dublin pair also qualified for the 2019 European Games in Belarus after finishing in the top ten in their respective feather and light classes.

Grainne Walsh also qualifies for the European Games, as the opponent that beat her in the last 16, Russia’s Iaroslava Iakushina, is through to today’s welter final.

The quarter-finalists, plus the boxers who were beaten by the eventual finalist in the last 16, qualify in the five designated limits for the European Games.

The three-strong Irish squad lost to three finalists in Sofia.

Reacting after Monday’s narrow 3-2 split decision to Russia’s Daira Abramova, Michaela Walsh said she’s determined to bounce back stronger.

“A lot of positives to take as I feel I am improving all the time. Only my second tournament at this weight and I’m getting stronger and fitter everyday. No one or nothing will stand in my way. I am a winner,” she said via social media.

Ireland’s has now won 10 medals at the European Women’s Elites since the inaugural tournament in 2001.

Irish European Women’s Elite Championships Medalists

2018: 57kg Michaela Walsh (Bronze)
2018: 60kg Kellie Harrington (Bronze)

2016: 75kg:Christina Desmond (Bronze)

2014: 69kg: Claire Grace (Bronze)
2005/06/07/09/11/14: 60kg: Katie Taylor (6 Gold)

Today’s finals begin at 3pm (Irish time)

Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 7.30pm tomorrow evening.

(Aer Lingus  EI 175  13 (June)  London Heathrow Dublin  1810- 1930)

Irish amateur boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane