Team Ireland recorded 3 wins from 4 bouts on Day Two of the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament. Whilst this was the second day of competition, no Irish athlete contested on the opening day of the tournament.
54kg Niamh Fay opened Ireland’s account a contesting against India’s Preeti Preeti, who has qualified for Paris. This was a close bout, and Niamh came away with the 3-2 split decision win. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 28:29; 30:27; 28:29; 30:27. Niamh boxes her quarter final on Thursday, against Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic.
57kg Michaela Walsh took on Tajikistan’s Mijgona Samadova (Bout 29), in another close and testy bout. The 4-1 decision went the Tajikistani boxer’s way. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 28:29.
75kg Aoife O’Rourke met India’s Lovlina Borgohain – a world champion who has also qualified for Paris. Points were deducted from Borgohain in rounds 1 and 2, and she was disqualified on deduction of a 3rd point in the 3rd round. Aoife meets Poland’s Elzbieta Wojcik in Thursday’s quater final – Aoife was the victor in their most recent meeting, at the semi-finals of the European Games.
In today’s evening session, 66kg Lisa O’Rourke stepped between the ropes for the first time since winning gold at Leszek Drogosz in Poland – against Thailand’s Janjaema Suwannapheng (Bout 48kg). This was another close contest, with Lisa claiming the win on a 3-2 split. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 30:27; 28:29; 29:28; 28:29. Lisa’s quarter final, against Poland’s Aneta Rygielska, will be boxed on Thursday.
261 boxers from 28 federations are contesting the tournament, hosted in Sofia by the Bulgarian Boxing Federation. Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, China, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tukey, Turkey and Uzbekistan have all fielded teams.
Day Three
Three Irish boxers are between the ropes on Tuesday; 57kg Adam Hession, Paris-qualified 63.5kg Dean Clancy, and 92+kg Martin McDonagh.
Dean contests against Uzbekistan’s Adkhamjon Mukhiddinov (Ring B, bout 7), Adam makes in debut against Mongolia’s Karkhuu Enkh-Aman (Ring A, bout 3) and Martin meets Ukraine’s Andrii Khaletskyi (Ring B, bout 12). All three box in the afternoon session, in bouts
Programme
Watch
The Bulgarian Boxing Federation is streaming the tournament on its YouTube Channel – links, per ring and session, become available on the day of boxing. The afternoon session begins at 1pm, Irish time, and the evening session at 3.30pm, Irish time.
Team
50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Mayo*
54kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast
66kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
51kg Rickey Nesbitt, Holy Family BC, Drogheda
57kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway
63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim
71kg Eugene McKeever, Holy Family, Drogheda
92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
92+kg Martin McDonagh, Crumlin, Dublin.
Draws are available here
Team Ireland did not box sessions 1-4.
Session 5A results
Session 6B results
Session 7A results
Session 8B results