IRISH WORLD SQUAD ARRIVE IN SIBERIA

 

Team Ireland arrived in Ulan-Ude earlier today for the 11th World Women’s Elite Championships.

The draw from the tournament will be held next Wednesday with boxing scheduled to begin 24 hours later at the Sports Complex in the Siberian city.

Circa 67 nations have entered.

The four-strong Irish squad completed a final training camp at the German Olympic Centre in Kienbaum with Germany, Australia and USA on Thursday.

Cavan flyweight Ceire Smith will be lining out at her 4th Worlds on the Mongolian border and Cork welter Christina Desmond and Belfast feather Michaela Walsh in their second and third outings at this level.

Dundalk lightweight Amy Broadhurst impressed on her World debut last year in New Delhi where she was within striking distance of at least bronze and was unlucky to go out to India’s Simranjit Kaur on a split decision in the light-welter class.

 

Irish female boxing first entered the World Elites at the third edition of the tournament in Podolsk, Russia in 2005.

The two-strong Irish squad of Katie Taylor and Allana Murphy, who met in the first officially IABA sanctioned bout at the National Stadium in Dublin four years earlier, won on their debuts 14 years ago but lost to North Korean lightweight Kang Kum Hui and Norwegian light welter Cecilia Breakhus in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the Irish squad will have their first training session in Siberia today.

Approximately 3,500 miles east of Moscow, Ulan-Ude is seven hours ahead of Ireland.

(Image: Irish squad before leaving Germany yesterday)

 

 

11th World Women’s Elite Championships Ulan-Ude, Siberia, Russia

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

Dimitry Dimitruk and Damian Kennedy