Three more fighters from Team Ireland secured at least a bronze medal each last night at the Women’s European Boxing Championships in Montenegro.
Caitlin Fryers, Kellie Harrington, and Aoife O’Rourke will now all progress to the semi-finals and a chance at silver or gold; they join Tuesday’s quarter-final winners Shannon Sweeney, Michaela Walsh, Amy Broadhurst, and Christina Desmond for a record-breaking seven guaranteed medals for Team Ireland.
Only welterweight Kaci Rock failed to progress last night after a valiant battle with Stefanie von Berge, a 5-0 decision going to the German 27:30, 29:28, 27:30, 27:30, 29-28.
Belfast’s 52 kg Caitlin Fryers was awarded a closely-fought 3-2 win over Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova, 30:27, 28:29, 28:29, 29:28, 30:27.
Reigning Olympic lightweight champion Dubliner Kellie Harrington also won in a 3-2 split, narrowly defeating English Shona Whitwell with scoring 27:30, 29:28, 27:30, 29:28, 29:28.
Roscommon’s Aoife O’Rourke was 2019 European middleweight champion; she’s one step closer to defending that title after her 4-1 win over Turkey’s Busra Isildar, scored 28:29, 29:28, 27:30, 27:30, 27:30.
The four bronzes guaranteed yesterday were already a record for Ireland, whose previous best was three in the 2019 tournament; seven is undeniably historic.
Today is a rest day in the tournament. Semi-finals are set for Friday and finals for Saturday. All bouts will be streamed on the EUBC’s YouTube channel.