IABA announce team for European Women’s Championships

The IABA have confirmed a team of just four boxers for the European Elite Women’s Championships which begin next week in Spain.

Ireland will be represented in Madrid by Céire Smith, Amy Broadhurst, Christina Desmond, and Aoife O’Rourke.

Cavan flyweight Smith returns to the fold having missed the 2019 National Championships.

Dundalk lightweight Broadhurst, the reigning Irish 64kg champion and European U22 60kg champion, fights in her natural class with World Champion Kelly Harrington missing out through the thumb injury which saw her forced to pull out of the European Games final.

Reigning Irish 69kg champion, and bronze medallist at middleweight in 2016, Desmond is back in the vest having missed the European Games – where Gráinne Walsh won bronze.

Roscommon middle O’Rourke is in again at 75kg as she continues her rapid development.

The Europeans will take place for a second consecutive year for women with Sofia having hosted the usually-biennial tournament in 2018.

The men’s tournament last took place in 2017 in Kharkiv with the European Games in Minsk earlier this summer doubling up as a European Championships.

Women’s boxing also took place in Minsk, but only in the five Olympic weights – whereas Madrid will see all ten weights contested. However, none of the non-Olympic classes, or featherweight, will have Irish representation.

Similarly, a team of three was all that was sent to the last European Championships after seven boxers were sent to the 2016 edition.

Boxing begins at the Alcobendas City venue on August 22nd and will run until September 1st.

Irish Team
48kg – NO ENTRANT
51kg – Ceire Smith (Cavan/Virginia)
54kg – NO ENTRANT
57kg – NO ENTRANT
60kg – Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
64kg – NO ENTRANT
69kg – Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
75kg – Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
80kg – NO ENTRANT
+80kg – NO ENTRANT