54kg Jennifer Lehane was first up of Team Ireland’s boxers today, against 2022 World Youth champion, Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic. Jenny lost the first round on all five judge’s scorecards, but battled back to take the second and third rounds, both 4-1. She ultimately won the decision 3-2. Jenny is next in action in Monday’s afternoon session, when she contests her last 16 bout against Greece’s Antonia Filippa Giannakopoulou. Listen to Jenny’s interview in full here
Next up was Olympian, 57kg Michaela Walsh, who contested against Greece’s Olga Pavlina Papadatou. Michaela lost the first round, 3-2, but also battled back to assert her dominance, and win the remaining rounds 5-0. She is in action in her Round of 16 bout in Tuesday’s evening session, against Turkey’s Aysen Taskin. Listen to Michaela’s interview in full here
80kg Kelyn Cassidy put in a smooth and assured performance against his Norweigan opponent, Mindgaugas Gedminas in his opening European Games bout. The Deise boxer won every round on all 5 judge’s scorecards, and progress to his last 16 bout against GB’s Taylor Bevan in Monday’s afternoon session.
Listen to Kelyn’s interview in full here
66kg Amy Broadhurst was the last Team Ireland boxer in action today – she met Serbia’s Milena Matovic. Amy asserted her dominance from the off, and came away with the 5-0 win. Judges scored the bout 30: 26, 29:28, 30:26, 30:27, 30: 26. Amy is back in the ring on and meets Latvia’s Beatrise Rozentale in Monday’s evening session.
List to Amy’s interview in full here
Fantastic performances by all four boxers today. Jenny and Michaela boxed excellently to reclaim their bouts, after both losing their first rounds. That they were able to do so shows their quality. Kelyn made his mark in his fight from the first very first moment, and didn’t drop a point – while Amy dominated her bout, completely. For many boxers, the first fight of a tournament is very important because once this is over, they can concentrate on boxing towards their goals. This is what Jenny, Michaela, Kelyn and Amy are now doing – focusing on the fight ahead.
Head Coach, Zauri Antia
The European Games is an Olympic Qualification event. A total of 44 places at Paris 2024 are available at these Games. In all weights excepting 75kg, 51kg and 92kg, a semi-final finish will win qualification. In these three weights, a finals finish is required. 319 boxers, in all, are contesting the tournament.
Preliminaries, Day Three
Two boxers are in action on Sunday – 63.5kg Dean Clancy returns for his second bout of the tournament, at Round of 16 stage. He takes on Malik Hasanov of Azerbaijan at 12:45pm Irish time; that’s bout 4 in Ring A’s afternoon Session.
71kg Dean Walsh gets his campaign underway at 6.45pm, Irish time – he meets Italy’s Salvatore Cavallaro (ITA) in bout 8 of Ring A’s evening session. Dean’s is the largest weight category in the tournament, with 36 boxers.
Watch
Bouts will be streamed here
All draws for all Team Ireland boxers are here and all results and schedules are available here