Impressive Ireland claim 5 wins on opening day of Chemistry Cup
Ireland celebrated a high-five at the Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany today with five of their six fighters emerging victorious.
Wayne Kelly, George Bates, Kieran Molloy and Kurt Walker won their last 16 bouts and Conor Quinn secured victory in the last-eight at the 45th edition of the tournament dubbed the Mini World Championships.
Quinn’s quarter-final win – a unanimous decision over German flyweight Umar Bajwa – guarantees at least bronze. The Belfast youngster’s was one of four wins against the home nation.
Kelly forced Ukraine’s Artur Badalian into a standing count in the third and final round of their 64kg clash, while Bates overcame star German lightweight Artur Bril for a second time having defeated him in Dublin last year.
Four of the winners from today and big men Joe Ward, Kirill Afanasev and Dean Gardiner are between the ropes in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
Quinn has a day off from competitive action ahead of Friday’s last-four contests.
Michael Nevin lost out to Indian middleweight Vikas Krishan, the current Commonwealth Games champion who recently defeated Steven Donnelly, in a close encounter where he finished strong but the two-time Olympian inflicted a first Senior defeat on the Portlaoise talent.
Images: Wayne Kelly, George Bates and Kieran Molloy after today’s wins.
(Pictures courtesy of Tibor of AIBA)
Irish amateur boxing in proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane.
45th Men’s Chemistry Cup Halle, Germany June 19/24
June 20th
Last 16 (1st session, 11am)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Artur Badalian (Ukraine) 5-0
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to Vikas Krishan (India) 0-5
Last 16 (2nd session, 2.30pm)
60kg George Bates (Ireland) beat Artur Bril (Germany) 4-1
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Richard Meinecke (Germany) 5-0
Last 8 and 16 (3rd sessions, 7pm)
Q/Final
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) beat Umar Bajwa (Germany) 5-0
Last 16
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Omar El Hag (Germany) 4-1
June 21st
Q/Finals
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Vasilii Vetkin (Russia)
60kg George Bates (Ireland) v Lucas Bandi (Canada)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) v Kastriot Sopa (Germany)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) v Thomas Zold (Slovakia)
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) v Pavil Silygan (Russia)
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) v Lucian Kohne (Germany)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) v Angel Gomez-Larduet (Cuba)
June 22nd
S/Final
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) v Vadim Kudriakov (Russia) or Solanki Gaurov (India)
Irish Squad
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg George Bates (St Marys)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)
69kg KIern Molloy (Oughterard)
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg Joe Ward (Sparticus)
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
Head coach: Zaur Antia
Coahes: Michael Carruth, Philip Keogh, Paul Thompson
