Brave O’Brien banks bronze in World Military Games
Danny O’Brien had to settle for bronze at the World (CISM) Military Games in China today.
The Army heavyweight was edged on points by Kazakhstan’s Abzal Kuttybekov after the bout was stopped early in the second round after both boxers needed medical attention for cuts following an accidental clash of heads in Wuhan.
The final scores read 19-19,19-19 and 20-18,20-18,20-18 to the Kazakh who looks an injury doubt for Saturday’s final versus Uzbekistan.
O’Brien was boxing well up to the point of the stoppage and would have probably won the bout if it had gone the distance, according to the Irish staff and coaches.
The Dubliner, the last Irish boxer remaining in the tournament, won three contests in three days en route to the last four and a guaranteed medal.
Commandant Adrian Watson said that O’Brien and the Irish boxing squad performed magnificently at the tournament and that they were very proud to be taking home bronze.
Watson also praised the technical expertise of John Molloy and two-time Irish Olympian Phil Sutcliffe in the Irish corner.
The Army competed in three sports – boxing, football and shooting – at the 7th edition of the Games and, courtesy of O’Brien, won bronze.
The team are due to arrive home from China next Wednesday.
World (CISM) Military Games Wuhan, China
October 25
S/Final
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) lost to Abzal Kuttybekov (Kazakhstan) 0-3
October 23
Q/Final
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Juan Nogueira (Brazil) 5-0
October 22
Q/Finals
75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) lost to Viktoryia Kebikova (Belarus) RSC3
Last 16
81kg Brian Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Di Zhou (China) 0-5
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) 5-0
91kg+ Antoine O Gríofa (Ireland) lost to Kumar Satish (India) 0-5
October 21
Last 32
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Michel Gavaj (France) KO1
October 20
Last 16
75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) beat Garza Fallon (USA) W/O
Last 32
64kg Stephen Lockhart (Ireland) lost to Zang Shuang (China) 0-5
69kg Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Miliusha Dzmitry (Belarus) RSCI1
75kg Michael Connelly (Ireland) lost to Golembiewski Bartosz (Poland) 0-5
Irish squad
Team Manager Comdt: Adrian Watson (Roscommon)
Head coach: Sgt John Molloy (7th Batt) (Offaly)
Coach: Phil Sutcliffe
75kg: Cpl Leona Houlihan (Dublin)
64kg: Pte Stephen Lockhart (7th Dublin)
69kg: Pte, Ross Hickey (Kildare)
75kg: Lt Mike Connelly (Galway)
81kg: Tpr Brian Kennedy (Offaly)
91kg: Pte Danny O’Brien (Dublin) (Bronze)
91kg+: Pte Antoine O Gríofa (Galway)
