The Irish Athletic Boxing Association have assembled a formidable squad of six to compete at the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India. The tournament takes place from the 15th-24th November.
Ireland, managed by Bernard Dunne, will be looking to maintain their fantastic record of medalling at every Elite Women’s World Championships since 2006.
Boxing in the 60kg category is world silver medallist Kellie Harrington. The Dubliner is competing in the lightweight category once donned by Katie Taylor and is in fine form. Harrington picked up bronze in the Women’s European Boxing Championships earlier this year and will be confident of medalling at the worlds.
Belfast’s Michaela Walsh is another experienced campaigner who will fancy her chances in India. The two-time Commonwealth Games silver-medallist and European bronze medallist, competes at featherweight in New Delhi.
The Irish squad also includes Dundalk’s young and exciting prospect Amy Broadhurst. Broadhurst who has 15 national titles and is nicknamed ‘Baby Canelo’ will be making her World’s debut and will be brimmed with confidence after claiming gold at the gold U22 European Championships in Romania. Broadhurst is also a former continental champion at both European and youth level.
Amy Broadhurst
Aoife O’Rourke, Broadhurst’s youth level teammate at the U22 European Championships will also be making her World’s debut after she claimed silver at the same championships. O’Rourke was unlucky not to claim her own gold medal at the EU Championships as after she was forced to pull out of the women’s middleweight final due to illness - consequently claiming silver.
With other experienced and classy boxers in the squad including the European medallist Grainne Walsh as well as Cavan’s experienced international flyweight Ceire Smith – Ireland will certainly be in the hunt for medals.
The boxing is due to being on Thursday 15th, at the impressive Indira Gandhi stadium.
Speaking on social media Grainne Walsh is adamant the squad is primed and ready for action. “All the hard work has been completed, looking forward to getting started and chasing my dream.”
Irish squad
51kg Ceire Smith (Virginia)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s)
64kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kh Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
