Irish squad in Thailand.
Please click here for Thursday’s semi-final schedule at the World University Championships in Thailand.
Cork middleweight Christina Desmond and Athlone heavyweight Kenny Okungbowa are between the ropes in the last-four tomorrow morning versus Poland and France.
Both boxers are guaranteed at least bronze – the first medals the Irish Athletic Third-Level Boxing Association have claimed at this level – from the 7th edition of the tournament.
Boxing begins at 8am on Thursday morning (Irish time).
Ceire Smith and Gary McKenna bowed out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage today. Team manager Paul Geoghegan hailed both performances.
He said: “Ceire and Gary gave it everything they had, but it just wasn’t their day. They can both be very proud of their efforts as I am of them. Let’s hope that the Irish fortunes change for the rest of the week.”
Chinese Taipei and Russia and China and Russia clash in the corresponding middleweight and heavyweight semi-finals tomorrow.
Thursday’s action will be screened live here.
7th World University Championships Thailand, October 3/8
October 3rd
Last 16
75kg: Conor Wallace Ireland) lost to Valerii Kharlamov (Ukraine) TKOI3
October 4th
Q/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Zura Kussainova (Kazakhstan) 3-0
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) beat Tadas Tamasuskas (Lithuania) 2-1
October 5th
Q/Finals
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Wassila Lkhadiri (France) 1-2
60kg Gary McKenna (Ireland) lost to Temirian Osmonov (Kyrgyzstan) 0-3
October 6th
S/Finals
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Natalia Hollinska (Poland)
91kg Ken Okungbowa (Ireland) v Dylan Bregeon (France)
IATBA Squad
51kg Ceire Smith – Cavan BC & DCU
60kg Gary McKenna – Old School BC Monaghan & University of Ulster
75kg Christina Desmond – Fr Horgans BC & LIT (Bronze, at least)
75kg Conor Wallace – St Monica’s Newry & University of Ulster
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa – Athlone BC & AIT (Bronze, at least)
Team manager: Paul Geoghegan
Coach: Paddy Gallagher