Ireland’s Aoife O’Rourke is set to become a two time Olympian after the Roscommon native secured Olympic qualification with a 3-2 split decision win over her Polish opponent in tonight’s Middleweight (75kg) semi-final.
O’Rourke now joins team mates Kellie Harrington (60kg) and Jack Marley (92kg), in fighting for gold at these European Games, when they contest their respective finals over the weekend.
Michaela Walsh (57kg) lost out 4-1 to Amina Zidaini of France in her Featherweight semi-final earlier on, to exit the tournament with a bronze medal, and the all important Olympic qualification secured.
In Kickboxing, Nicole Bannon had the better of her Greek opponent in her quarter-final this evening to become the fifth Irish kickboxer to secure a guaranteed medal at these Games, and progress to the semi-finals tomorrow.
BOXING
Ireland’s Aoife O’Rourke booked her spot on the plane to Paris and will fight for gold on Sunday after a titanic battle with Poland’s Elzbieta Wojcik in the women’s middleweight semi-final tonight.
The pair have faced off four times already, with O’Rourke taking the win each time. Today, Wojcik took the first round 4-1, full of confidence on her home turf. O’Rourke came out like a train in the second round, and with the Irish supporters in full voice drowning out the shouts of ‘Polska, Polska’, the Roscommon native pushed on to take the second 4-1. The last round was scrappy, with both fighters tiring, but O’Rourke dug deep to take the win by split decision 3-2.
The Tokyo Olympian was thrilled to have made a second Games; “I don’t know what to say; I’m lost for words. I’m absolutely over the moon. That was a tough, tough battle. No matter how many times I meet that girl, it’s a battle every time, and it was to the wire today, so fair play to her as well. I’m delighted it was my day though and I got the ticket. No doubt she’ll qualify later in the year.”
Referring to the pressure to qualify, she said: “It wasn’t about the result, it was more about the performance…get in and do my best, that’s all anyone can do and if your best is good enough, results will show, and I’m just delighted that all my hard work has paid off. We’ve been training really really hard, we’ve had great training camps, and thanks to all the coaches and the rest of the team mates, and our coaches at home in our clubs.”
Irish Boxing Head Coach Zaur Antia added; “Perfection is unlimited; we need to improve every day. This time we think we are not satisfied with just going to the Olympic Games, we want more than that. She did very well, she’s a warrior, she fought well, she worked very hard for what she achieved. It’s not easy to beat the same person four times, in Poland as well. She has made everybody very happy.”
Beforehand, Belfast’s Michaela Walsh bowed out of the European Games with a ticket to Paris 2024 and a bronze medal in her pocket. The Belfast boxer lost on a split decision (4-1) in this evening’s semi-final to 2023 World bronze medallist Amina Zidani of France.
Emerald BC boxer Walsh spoke afterwards; “Unfortunately for me, today was her day. I’ve fought her before, I’ve beaten her before – that’s boxing for you. I think at the top level it’s nip and tuck between whoever is going to come out on top and listen, I could easily have got my hand raised in there as well, so I just have to keep the positives from it, and go back to drawing board.”
She concluded; “The most important thing coming here was qualifying for the Olympic Games and I don’t really see it like that now because I’m only after losing, but when I go back and I take everything into consideration, I can be proud of my achievement. I think I’ve earned a well deserved rest!”
Earlier on, Jack Marley confirmed his place on the plane to Paris 2024 with qualification in the Men’s heavyweight semi-final. Marley is the first Irish heavyweight boxer in 27 years to qualify for an Olympic Games, with Cathal O’Grady the last in 1996.
Beforehand, Dean Clancy bowed out of the European Games with a ticket to Paris 2024 and a bronze medal, following an energetic performance against Tokyo silver medallist, three-time world champion, and world number one Sofiane Oumiha of France.
Kellie Harrington started the day defeating former professional and Rio Olympic champion Estelle Mossely of France in the lightweight (60kg) semi-final, to advance to tomorrow’s final against Serbia’s Natalia Shadrina, with the gold medal on the line.
KICKBOXING
Nicole Bannon was the fifth Irish kickboxer to secure a guaranteed medal at these Games when she beat Martha Nystazou of Greece this evening.
Earlier on, Conor McGlinchey and Jodie Brown also secured bronze medals, at least, with quarter-final wins this afternoon, to add to those secured by Amy Wall this morning, and Nathan Tait (courtesy of a bye) as they all face semi-final action tomorrow.
Speaking after her quarter, final Tallaght’s Browne, who is reigning WAKO World and European champion, commented “I've secured my spot in the semi-finals. It was a tough fight, but I’ll come up with another plan. Today I had a Croatian where I won 12-2. I won by the maximum score and the fight was stopped in the second round. I had a game plan on how to win today against the Croatian, so I’m hoping to go back, have a game plan on how to beat the Slovenian, and hopefully take a spot in the final, and gold for Ireland. I’m taking it one step at a time, one fight at a time, all the preparation is done, and I’m hoping that all my preparation leads to the final.”
Kildare man McGlinchey spoke of his contest; “Today was a good day overall. It was a successful day. I managed to beat my Slovenian opponent in the quarter-finals by a maximum score, which is always a nice touch. It was a tough one. We had a game plan going in and executed it the way we wanted to.
He added: “Tomorrow I face a tough opponent in Ricardo Albanese, who I fought before. I came out on top at the European Championships last year, but Ricardo is world renowned, so tomorrow is going to be a tough fight. Tonight, myself and Dave (coach) are going to put together a game plan and hopefully execute with precision tomorrow. I’m very hopeful I can book myself a place in the final. Overall, I’m delighted with finally medalling at such a prestigious tournament and I’m looking forward to changing that colour.”
Also, in the Men’s full contact 75kg Peter Carr lost out to Serbia’s Aleksander Konovalov 3-0.
PREVIEW
Tomorrow, on the penultimate day of these European Games, Ireland will be represented by four sports.
First up, Ireland’s four strong team of triathletes contest the Mixed relay tomorrow morning. The race consists of a 300m swim, 7.65km bike, followed by a 2km run for each athlete in a relay format from male to female, to next male, to next female on the final leg.
In Canoe Slalom, Samuel Curtis and Noel Hendrick will race in the Men’s K1 semi-finals, Madison Corcoran in the Women’s equivalent. Alistair McCreery races in the cross qualification event in the afternoon.
In Kickboxing, which is on the European Games programme, five Irish athletes will contest the semi-finals tomorrow, all of whom are already guaranteed a medal having got this far.
Finally, tomorrow evening, reigning Olympic champion Kellie Harrington will meet Natalia Shadrina of Serbia in the Women’s Lightweight (60kg) final tomorrow evening to decide the gold at these European Games.
Not long afterwards, Monkstown BC’s Jack Marley faces Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine of Italy in the Men’s Heavyweight (92kg) decider.
EVENING RESULTS Friday 30th June 2023
Kickboxing
Light Contact, 79kg, quarter-final, Tony Stephenson Beaten by Lajos Imre Fesu of Hungary 3-0, does not progress
Light Contact, 60kg, quarter-final, Nicole Bannon BEAT Martha Nystazou of Greece 3-0, guaranteed medal, through to semi-final
Boxing
Women’s 57kg, Semi-final, Michaela Walsh (IRE) Beaten by Amina Zidani (FRA) 4-1
Women’s 75kg, Semi-final, OLYMPIC QUALIFIER, Aoife O’Rourke (IRE) BEATS Elzbieta Wojcik (POL) 3-2, Qualifies for Paris 2024, through to final
SCHEDULE Saturday 1st July 2023
(all times in Irish time, with local time in brackets)
Triathlon (Nova Huta Lake)
09:00 (10:00) Mixed Relay – James Edgar, Erin McConnell, Luke McCarron, Carolyn Hayes, (IRE)
Canoe Slalom (Kolna Sports Centre)
08:35 (09:35) Men’s K1 semi-final, Samuel Curtis
08:35 (09:35) Men’s K1 semi-final, Noel Hendrick
10:05 (11:05) Women’s K1 semi-final, Madison Corcoran
11:40 (12:40) Men’s K1 Final, Samuel Curtis,*Qualification dependent
11:40 (12:40) Men’s K1 Final, Noel Hendrick,*Qualification dependent
12:10 (13:10) Women’s K1 Final, Madison Corcoran,*Qualification dependent
14:05 (15:05) Men’s K1 Cross Qualification, Alistair McCreery (IRL)
Kickboxing
11:00 (12:00) Men’s Point Fighting 74kg, semi-final, Nathan Tait (IRE) V Danylo Mancari
11:45 (12:45) Women’s Full Contact 60kg, semi-final, Amy Wall (IRE) V Kinga Szlachcic (POL)
12:15 (13:15) Men’s Point Fighting 84kg, semi-final, Conor McGlinchey (IRE) V Riccardo Albanese (ITA)
12:30 (13:30) Women’s Point Fighting 70kg, Jodie Browne (IRE) V Tina Baloh
15:12 (16:12) Women’s Light Contact 60kg, semi-final, Nicole Bannon (IRE) V Luna Mendy (ITA)
Boxing
17:15 (18:15) Women’s 60kg Lightweight Final; Kellie Harrington (IRE) V Natalia Shadrina
18:30 (19:30) Men’s 92kg Heavyweight Final: Jack Marley (IRE) V Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine (ITA)
