Sweeney & Fay win through to European Championship quarter finals.

Shannon Sweeney and Niamh Fay have won through to the Quarter Final stage at the 2024 European Elite Championships, being held in Belgrade.

50kg Shannon opened her campaign against Russia’s Geliusa Galieva – this was a tough bout, but Shannon was in control from the first bell, scored a unanimous decision win, and a chance at a podium place. Judges scored the bout 30:27; 29:28; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27. 54kg Niamh Fay also faced Russian opposition – Karina Tazabekova. This was a testy bout, but Niamh was the stronger boxer, recording a 4-1 win. The final scores: 30:27; 29:28; 30:27; 28:29; 29:28. Double 57kg Michaela Walsh met France’s Sthelyne Grosy – the 5-0 decision went in the French boxer’s favour. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 29:28; 30:27; 29:28; 30:27.

401 boxers from 38 federations will contest the championships. The draw takes place on April 18th; April 26th is a rest day, and finals will be boxed on April 28th.

Prize money will be awarded in all weight categories, from quarter finalists to champions. Those finishing at the QF stage will receive $1,000; bronze medalists will be awarded $5,000 apiece. Winning silver means a $10,000 award, and champions will get $15,000.

Day Six

Tuesday is a bumper day for Ireland, with 5 boxers in the ring.

Shannon Sweeney returns to box her Quarter Final against No. 1 seed in the weight, Spain’s Laura Fuertes Fernandez. That’s Bout 1 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session. Niamh Fay is in action 7 bouts later (Bout 8), in the same ring and session, vying for a podium place against Niamh boxes for a podium place in tomorrow’s afternoon session against Stanmira Petrova of Buglaria. Petrova is the No. 2 seed in the weight.

Reigning lightweight Olympic champion and Paris Olympian, Kellie Harrington, has a bye to the quarter finals and will face Turkey’s Ozer Gizem in Bout 1 of Ring A’s Evening Session. Team flag bearer, 66kg Lisa O’Rourke, also has a bye, and will contest her quarter final in Bout 5 of Ring B’s Evening Session, against Slovakia’s Jessica Triebelova. Lisa’s sister, double Olympian Aoife O’Rourke opens her account at the tournament 2 outs later (Bout 7), against Veronika Nakota.

Afternoon Sessions at the tournament begin at 2pm, Irish time – Evening Sessions begin at 4.45pm.

Programme

Watch

Ring A

Ring B

Team

50kg Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s BC, Mayo

54kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin

57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast

60kg Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin

66kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon

75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon

51kg Rickey Nesbitt, Holy Family BC, Drogheda

57kg Adam Hession, Monivea BC, Galway

63.5kg Dean Clancy, Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim

71kg Eugene McKeever, Holy Family, Drogheda

92kg Jack Marley, Monkstown BC, Dublin

Draws are available here

Day One results are available here

Day Two results are available here

Day Three results are available here

Day Four results are available here

Session 13A results

Session 14B results

Session 15A results

Session 16B results