Kelly Harrington loses dubious split decision to Russian at European Championships

Kelly Harrington fell to a dubious split decision loss this afternoon at the European Women’s Championships in Bulgaria.

Her first fight at the tournament in Sofia, the Dublin light welter was adjudged to have lost her Last 16 bout with Russian Aleksandra Ordina.

Harrington had received a bye into today’s bout, while Ordina had defeated Sweden’s Lina Skoghagen in the opening round. There was no time for feeling her way into the bout as it started at a high tempo. Ordina began slightly quicker, but the switch-hitting Dubliner finished strongly.

The second followed a similar pattern, with Ordina beginning well, but the Glasnevin star soon taking control and countering well.

The third was Harrington’s most dominant, and she beat her opponent to the punch and negated most attacks.

Ordina came out firing in the fourth and final round, but the Irishwoman turned on the style, landing countless check-hooks and seemingly seeing out a competitive, but clear, victory.

The fight went to the scorecards, with one judge handing Harrington a 40:36 victory, with another giving Ordina the nod 37:39. The final judge had the bout a 38:38 draw, and he gave the edge to the Russian.

Irish coach Zaur Antia would say afterwards that he felt Harrington won the bout.

Four Irish fighters remain – Christina Desmond, Shauna O’Keefe, Gráinne Walsh, and Moira McElligott – and they will fight for medals this weekend.