Ireland won two out of four bouts on Day 1 of the Strandja multi-nations this afternoon and early evening in Sofia.

Michaela Walsh and Kellie Harrington had their hands raised in victory but George Bates and Kiril Afanasev bowed out in the preliminaries.

Walsh beat Wildad Bertal on a 4-1 split and Harrington, the last Irish boxer in action today, produced a composed display to see off Poland’s Aneta Rygielska on a unanimous decision.

Bates was beaten by Ukraine’s Aadkhuja Muydunkujaev and Afanasv lost out to Turkish heavyweight Mujahit Ilyas.

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria

February 22nd

Last 16 and 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Wildad Bertal (Mauritius) 4-1

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Aneta Rygielska (Poland) 5-0

63kg George Bates (Ireland) lost to Aadkhuja Muydunkujaev (Ukraine) 0-5

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Mujahit Ilyas (Turkey) 1-4

February 23rd

Last 16

51kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) v Wassila Likhardiri (France)

81kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) v Stephan Hrekul (Ukraine)

75kg Aofie O’Rourke (Ireland) v Dobromiro Georgieve (Bulgaria)

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v TBA

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v TBA

(Walsh and Harrington dates to be confirmed)

February 24

Last 16

91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Ireland) v Singh Manjeet (India)

February 25

Q/Final

52k Brendan Irvine (Ireland) v Bashkim Bejoku (Kosovo)

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria February 21/28

Irish squad

51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston BC)
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s BC)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown BC)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s BC)
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s BC)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea BC)
81kg Emmett Brennan (Dublin Docklands BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles BC)

Team Manager:Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zauri Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dmitruk

Physio: Lorcan McGee

Please scroll down for the draw from the Strandja multi-nations in Sofia, Bulgaria. Boxing was due to begin tomorrow, according to the official schedule.  But because of the high entries, the tournament is beginning today with four Irish boxers in action.      

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria

February 22nd

Last 16 and 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Wildad Bertal (Mauritus) 4-1

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Aneta Rygielska (Poland) 5-0

63kg George Bates (Ireland) lost to Aadkhuja Muydunkujaev (Ukraine) 0-5

91k Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Mujahit Ilyas (Turkey) 1-4

February 23rd

Last 16

51kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) v Wassila Likhardiri (France)

81kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) v Stephan Hrekul (Ukraine)

75kg Aofie O’Rourke (Ireland) v Dobromiro Georgieve (Bulgaria)

February 24

Last 16

91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Ireland) v Singh Manjeet (India)

February 25

Q/Final

52k Brendan Irvine (Ireland) v Bashkim Bejoku (Kosovo)

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria February 21/28

Irish squad

51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston BC)
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s BC)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown BC)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s BC)
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s BC)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea BC)
81kg Emmett Brennan (Dublin Docklands BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles BC)

Team Manager:Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zauri Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dmitruk

Physio: Lorcan McGee

Team Ireland will go into the hat for today’s draw at the Strandja multi-nations in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Thirty two nations have registered to take part in the 72nd edition of the tournament.

Please click here for daily schedule.

The draw will be made this afternoon at 5.30 pm today local time and boxing begins Tuesday.

Bulgaria is two hours ahead of Ireland.

Ireland is using a nine-strong squad in Sofia.

The Strandja multi-nations marks Ireland’s first outing since last year’s European Olympic qualifiers which were cancelled on March 16 after three days of competition in London because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria February 21/28

Irish squad

51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston BC)
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s BC)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown BC)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s BC)
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s BC)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea BC)
81kg Emmett Brennan (Dublin Docklands BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles BC)

Team Manager:Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zauri Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dmitruk

Physio: Lorcan McGee

Top international Referee and Judge (R&J) Dermot McDermott is included on the Referee and Judge (R&J) roster for the Americas qualifiers in Argentina.

The qualifiers will be decided in Buenos Aires in June.

A vastly experienced AIBA 3-star R&J, McDermott is regularly involved in Irish and international competition.

The Kildare man has officiated in the World Series of Boxing and the All African Championships and in top AIBA tournaments, including the Asia/Oceania qualifiers last year.

Dominic O’Rourke, President of the IABA, congratulated Dermot on his appointment.

“Dermot is a world-class referee and judge and he will bring a lot of experience to the tournament. Congratulations to Dermot on his appointment,” he said.

Please see above attachments for Youth and Junior home training sessions