“I just want the gold medal” – Kristina O’Hara targets more EU glory

Following a year out in which she matured as a boxer and moved down in weight, Kristina O’Hara stormed back to centre-stage earlier this year.

The Belfast light flyweight bludgeoned her way to a first Elite Senior title in February, defeating Intermediate champ Carol Coughlan and decorated underage star Shannon Sweeney to claim top prize at 48kgs.

The heavy-hitting O’Hara fought with a real swagger and is feeling strong ahead of the EU Championships next month.

Emboldened by her Senior title triumph, O’Hara noted how “you always feel good, especially after a win, and I had two fights and it definitely makes me feel like I’ve earned my place.”

“Every boxer wants to improve, and I’m improving each and every day and working my heart out in the gym. I feel as if I’m improving every time I step through the ropes.”

O’Hara had been targeting the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, however the sudden readdition of the EUs to the calendar have given the St John Bosco fighter the opportunity to add to an already impressive medal cabinet.

The Antrim woman described how “I actually went to the Europeans [EUs] four years ago at Youth and won the gold medal, and again at Youth level I won silver [2014 Europeans]. This is my first international at Senior level and I just want the gold medal.

“They [the EUs] just came out of nowhere, we’re just all going to prepare and hopefully we all come back with a gold medal. We all push each other on.”