Dean Gardiner (red) in action
Dean Gardiner and Michael O’Reilly meet India’s Satish Kumar and Vitalia Dandarenka of Belarus in their opening bouts at the Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Kumar comfortably beat Tongan super-heavy Kaho Raikadroka and Dandarenka decisioned Abdreas Kokknos of Cyprus today.
Kumar faces Gardiner in the last 16 on Sunday and Dandarenka meets O’Reilly, the No. 1 seed in the middleweight class, in the last 32 on Monday.
Darren O’Neill is the first Irish boxer in action early tomorrow evening (Irish time) in Baku. The Kilkenny heavyweight is in against Mustafa El Molla of Sweden. Boxing begins at 4pm (Irish time) in the second session.
Please see below attachment for Day 3 program.
Irish draw Baku Olympic qualifiers
June 18th
(Last 32)
91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) v Mustafa El Molla (Sweden)
June 19th
(Last 32)
64kg Dean Walsh (Ireland) v Smetov Ismetov (Bulgaria)
(Last 16)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner v Satish Kumar (India)
June 20th
(Last 32)
75kg Michael O’Reilly (Ireland) v Vitalia Dandarenka (Belarus)
Irish Squad
64kg (Light-welter) Dean Walsh (St Josephs/St Ibars)
75kg (Middleweight) Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
91kg (Heavyweight )Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91kg + (Super-heavy) Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
Team manager Joe Hennigan
Coaches: Zaur Antia and Eddie Bolger
Performance Analyst Alan Swanton
Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey