Lightweight Olympic champion, Kellie Harrington, and fellow Olympian, Aoife O’Rourke, have won through to the semi-finals of the 73rd Strandja International Tournament today, and secured at least bronze medals in the process.
They were among 5 Team Ireland boxers in action today.
Harrington won a unanimous decision in decisive fashion over Kazabhstan’s Aidana Zabynbekova, – O’Rourke was similarly emphatic in her victory over Davina Michel of France
Both women will box their semi-finals on Friday.
Olympian, Michaela Walsh boxed Russia’s Liudmila Voronstova, and her participation in the tournament ended following a 5-0 decision in favour of her opponent.
M71kg Luke Maguire met Abdyzhapar Uulu Syrgak of Kyrgyzstan in a strongly contested bout – the 3-1 split decision the result of a point deduction for the Dubliner.
W50kg Caitlin Fryers was scheduled to meet Finland’s Pihla Kaivo-Oja, but was withdrawn by the Team Ireland coaches and medical team.
W52kg Carly McNaul will be the only Team Ireland boxer in the ring at Strandja on Thursday. She is in Quarter Final action in bout 224 of the tournament, against Tetiana Kob of Ukraine. Carly boxes in Bout 8 in Ring A.
The tournament organisers have yet to release the Day Five programme, or Day Four session results. Both are expected later tonight, or in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The tournament is being live-streamed by the IBA, on its YouTube channel. Links, per ring and session, will be issued on Thursday morning.
Team Ireland Squad:
F48kg Shannon Sweeney
F50kg Caitlin Fryers
F52kg Carly McNaul
F57kg Michaela Walsh
F60kg Kellie Harrington
F70kg Christina Desmond
F75kg Aoife O’Rourke
57kg Adam Hession
60kg JP Hale
63.5kg Dean Clancy
67kg Eugene McKeever
71kg Luke Maguire
80kg Kelyn Cassidy
92kg+ Thomas Maughan
The competition schedule and individual draws for all 14 Team Ireland boxers are here
Day One results are here
Day Two results are here
Day Three results are here
Day Four Session 13 A
Day Four session 14B
Day Four Session 15 A
Day Four session 16B