Amy Broadhurst had to settle for bronze at the European Elites following a tight encounter with Mira Potkonen in the semi-finals of the European Women’s Elites in Madrid today.
The Finn, the defending champion and No. 1 seed in the 60kg class, was awarded a 30-26,30-27,30-25,29-28,30-26 unanimous decision
Broadhurst arguably did enough to win the first round and could have shaded the second while the Rio 2016 bronze medallist claimed the third frame of a close and hard-punching bout on the unofficial scores.
The Dundalk southpaw had particularly good first and second rounds and repeatedly tagged her industrious opponent with her backhand while Potkonen’s best work was when she closed down
space.
European No. 1 Potkonen will now meet France’s Maiva Homadouche, who shocked Turkey’s No.2 seed Sema Caliskan in a fight refereed by Ireland’s Sadie Duffy today, for gold tomorrow.
Speaking after the decision, Irish team manager JP Kinsella said they were disappointed with the result but hailed Broadhurst’s performances this week in her debut at this level.
Meanwhile, Aoife O’Rourke, the last Irish boxer remaining in the tournament, will be in the ring at approximately 7pm (Irish time) tonight versus Russian middleweight and Olympic Youth champion Anastasia Shamonova.
The Irish squad are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport this Sunday morning at 10.40am. (Flight 1B3792; Departure Madrid: 09.10. Arrival Dublin: 10.40 (Terminal 1).
(Pictures: Broadhurst v Potkonen. Images courtesy of Margit Kincses)
European Women’s Elite Championships Madrid, Spain August 22/31
August 30
S/Finals
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) lost to Mira Potkonen (Finland) 0-5
60kg Maiva Homadouche (France) beat Sema Caliskan (Turkey) 4-1
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) v Anastasia Shamonova (Russia)
75kg Love Holgersson (Sweden) v Elziebta Wojcik (Poland)
Results
August 28
Q/Finals
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Anastasia Belokova (Russia) 5-0
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Darima Sandakova (Russia) 1-4
August 27
Last 16
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Leonie Anna Van Leeuwen (Netherlands) 5-0
August 26
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Naz Buse Cakiroglu (Turkey) 0-5
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Dominika Ciklova (Czech Republic) 5-0
Q/Final
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Tetiana Petrovich (Ukraine) 5-0
August 25
Last 32
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Krisztina Beri (Hungary) RSC2
Irish squad
51kg: Ceire Smith (Cavan/Virginia)
60kg: Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) (Bronze)
69kg: Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
75kg: Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) (Bronze, at least)
Team manager: JP Kinsella
Coaches: Zaur Antia and Damian Kennedy
Physio; David Cooke