It’s going to be an early opening bell for Irish boxing at the World Women’s Elites in Ulan-Ude, Siberia tomorrow.
Ceire Smith and Michaela Walsh will be between the ropes at 6am and 6.30am (Irish times) battling for places in the quarter-finals.
Click here for the schedule.
Smith meets North Korea’s No. 1 seed Mi Choi Pang in the flyweight class in Ring A and Walsh is in against Russian feather Liudmila Vorontsova in Ring B.
Team Ireland’s four-strong squad have recorded four wins on the bounce so far, with Smith, Walsh, Christina Desmond and Amy Broadhurst having their hands raised in victory.
Bernard Dunne, the IABA High-Performance Director in Siberia, said Smith and Walsh can’t wait to get in the ring on Tuesday.
“It’s a tough challenge as you would expect at a World Championships but an excellent opportunity to get into the top eight,” he said. “The squad are buzzing and are in great spirits.”
Meanwhile, Desmond and Broadhurst box Wednesday.
Ulan-Ude is seven hours ahead of Ireland.
(Image: Ceire Smith in action versus Australia earlier in the tournament)
World Women’s Elite Championships Ulan-Ude, Siberia, Russia
October 8
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) v Mi Choi Pang (North Korea)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Liudmila Vorontsova (Russia)
October 9
Last 16
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Aneta Rygielska (Poland)
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Myriam Da Silva (Canada)
Results
October 6
Last 32
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Maya Kleinhans (Germany) 5-0
October 5
Last 32
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Carmara Fatoumata (Mali) 5-0
October 4
Last 32
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Sandy Ryan (England) 4-1
October 3
Last 32
51kg: Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Taylah Robertson (Australia) 5-0
Irish squad
51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne
Head coach: Zaur Antia
Coaches: Dimitry Dimitruk and Damian Kennedy