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Mix fortunes as Team Ireland return competitive action

Ireland won two out of four bouts on Day 1 of the Strandja multi-nations this afternoon and early evening in Sofia.

Michaela Walsh and Kellie Harrington had their hands raised in victory but George Bates and Kiril Afanasev bowed out in the preliminaries.

Walsh beat Wildad Bertal on a 4-1 split and Harrington, the last Irish boxer in action today, produced a composed display to see off Poland’s Aneta Rygielska on a unanimous decision.

Bates was beaten by Ukraine’s Aadkhuja Muydunkujaev and Afanasv lost out to Turkish heavyweight Mujahit Ilyas.

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria

February 22nd

Last 16 and 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Wildad Bertal (Mauritius) 4-1

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Aneta Rygielska (Poland) 5-0

63kg George Bates (Ireland) lost to Aadkhuja Muydunkujaev (Ukraine) 0-5

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Mujahit Ilyas (Turkey) 1-4

February 23rd

Last 16

51kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) v Wassila Likhardiri (France)

81kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) v Stephan Hrekul (Ukraine)

75kg Aofie O’Rourke (Ireland) v Dobromiro Georgieve (Bulgaria)

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v TBA

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v TBA

(Walsh and Harrington dates to be confirmed)

February 24

Last 16

91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Ireland) v Singh Manjeet (India)

February 25

Q/Final

52k Brendan Irvine (Ireland) v Bashkim Bejoku (Kosovo)

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria February 21/28

Irish squad

51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston BC)
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s BC)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown BC)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s BC)
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s BC)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea BC)
81kg Emmett Brennan (Dublin Docklands BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles BC)

Team Manager:Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zauri Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dmitruk

Courtesy of IABA

Photo Credit INPHO

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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