Amy Broadhurst, Kellie Harrington, and Christina Desmond, claimed gold medals in their respective weight categories at the 74th Strandja Memorial Tournament, one of the most highly-regarded amateur boxing competitions in the world.
Amy Broadhurst, who had recently lost in the final of January’s Irish Nationals, made a welcome return to form and secured the welterweight (66kg) gold medal after a convincing 5-0 win over Germany’s Leonie Muller. Grainne Walsh, who had beaten Broadhurst to take the national title, was knocked out in the first round in Bulgaria in the 66kg category. The victory boosts Broadhurst hopes in securing a place in Ireland’s squad for the European Games in June, which is an Olympic qualifier.
Amy Broadhurst 🤝 Katie Taylor@amybroadhurst12: 'ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɢᴇᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ @KatieTaylor ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɢᴇᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ'
How two of Ireland's best have helped each other in and out of the ring 🥊#HerSportAwards pic.twitter.com/TGkJPZXCmT
— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) February 22, 2023
Kellie Harrington, the reigning Olympic lightweight champion, competed in the non-Olympic light-welterweight 63kg category in Bulgaria and also had a unanimous 5-0 win in her final over Keona Sam-Sin from the Netherlands.
🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇#TeamIreland's Kellie Harrington claims STRANDJA light-welterweight 🥇following a 5-0 win over Keona Sam-Sin of The Netherlands pic.twitter.com/9BmKrLTCya
— IABA (@IABABOXING) February 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Christina Desmond also claimed the gold medal in the non-Olympic light-middleweight 70kg category, defeating Barbara Marcinckovska from Poland 5-0 in the final.
#TeamIreland's Christina Desmond has been awarded her 74th STRANDJA Memorial Tournament light middleweight🥇 https://t.co/O5uffMLICy pic.twitter.com/HCqNQnCfAt
— IABA (@IABABOXING) February 26, 2023
Overall, 450 boxers from 42 nations took part in the tournament, which was organized by the Bulgarian Boxing Federation.