Niamh Early just one win away from securing World Junior Gold
Natasha Logan bowed out of the AIBA World Women’s Youth and Junior Championships in Taipei, Taiwan at the semi-final stage to Muzdman Balaussa today.
The Kazakh bantam, a silver medalit at the 2013 AIBA World Junior Championships, earned a 40-36 unanimous decision across the board over four, two minute rounds.
Logan, who won two fights to get the the last-four, will be bringing home bronze from Taipei after a tough four-rounder with Balaussa, who will now meet Concetta Marchese of Italy in Saturday’s 54kg final.
Earlier, almost literally, today, Niamh Earley moved to within one win of World Junior gold in the Junior flyweight class.
But Kelsey Leonard and Joanne Richards had to settle for bronze at the tournament despite massive performances in this morning’s Junior semi-finals in Taipei.
Earley recorded her third win of the Championships at the expense of Jiawen Huang of China, the Ryston BC fly dominating amid a fantastic atmosphere – most of which was created by the Irish squad and fans – en route to a unanimous decision.
She’ll now meet India’s Sandhu Mandeep – who beat Joanna Wonyou of France on a split today – in Saturday’s 52kg final looking to become the third Irish boxer after Ciara Ginty in 2013 in Bulgaria and Joe Ward in 2009 in Armenia to claim AIBA World Junior gold.
Leonard and Richards produced gutsy performances against Kateryna Rohova of the Ukraine and Kylie Hall of the USA, who are unbeaten as a nation in Taipei. Richards can consider unlucky not to be through to the gold medal match.
The New Ross welter dominated the first round in particular, but Hall got decision on a split verdict.
Leonard, as she has been doing throughout this tournament, gave it absolutely everything against Rohova. Both Richards and Leonard will be bringing home bronze and have already ensured that Ireland will finish strong in the medals table when the dust settles on the 3rd edition of the Championships tomorrow.
Team Ireland are due to arrive home at 1:35pm on Monday afternoon via Dublin Airport (Terminal 2).
Irish women’s boxing is proudly sponsored by QuickPark of Dublin Airport.
2015 AIBA World Women’s Youth and Junior Championships Taipei, Taiwan– May 15th/24th.
Youth
May 16th
60kg Shannon Edge (Ireland) lost to Darlin Calderon (Dominican Rep) 0-3
May 17th
48kg Emma Flannery (Ireland) lost to Justine Metzdorf (Germany) 1-2
51kg Jacqui Lynch (Ireland) lost to Aidanan Baltabayeva (Kazakhstan) 0-2
57kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Aigerim Oshakbay (Kazakhstan) 2-1
May 18th
57kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) lost to Xingyan Gao (China) 1-2
May 19th
54kg Natasha Logan (Ireland) beat Aliya Valizada (Azerbaijan) 3-0
64kg Ciara Ginty (Ireland) beat Aida Abikeyeva (Kazakhstan) 3-0
May 20th
Q/Finals
54kg Natasha Logan (Ireland) beat Dung Thuy Thi Vu (Vietnam) 3-0
64kg Ciara Ginty (Ireland) lost to Ariel Arismendez (USA) 0-3
75kg Aoife Burke (Ireland) lost to Chantelle Reid (England) 0-3
May 22nd
S/Finals
54kg Natasha Logan (Ireland) lost to Muzdman Balaussa (Kazakhstan) 0-3
Junior
May 17th
50kg Kelsey Leonard beat Ching Shin Wang (Chinese Taipei) 3-0
May 18th
46kg Kayleigh Lynch (Ireland) lost to Karina Tuvakova (Russia) 1-2
48kg Shauna Blaney (Ireland) lost to Heaven Garcia (USA) 0-3
52kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) beat Anna Krasnoperova (Russia) 2-1
57kg Orla Garvey beat Havvanur En (Turkey) 2-0
May 19th
Q/Finals
57kg Orla Garvey (Ireland) lost to Zhane Crockett (USA) 0-3
66kg Joanne Richards (Ireland) beat Shruti Yadav (India) 3-0
May 20th
Q/Finals
50kg Kelsey Leonard (Ireland) beat Mungunsaran Balsan (Mongolia) 3-0
52kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) beat Bunyat Machai (Thailand) 3-0
60kg Shauna O’ Callaghan (Ireland) lost Ekaterina Dynnik (Russia) 1-2
May 22nd
S/Finals
50kg Kelsey Leonard (Ireland) lost to Kateryna Rohova (Ukraine) 0-3
52kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) beat Jiawen Huang (China) 3-0
66kg Joanne Richards (Ireland) lost to Kylie Hall (USA) 1-2
May 23rd
Finals
52kg Niamh Earley (Ireland) v Sandhu Mandeep (India)
Irish squad
Youths
48kg Emma Flannery (Baldoyle)
51kg Jacqui Lynch (Golden Gloves)
54kg Natasha Logan (St Brigids, Edenderry) (Bronze)
57kg Amy Boardhurst (Dealgan)
60kg Shannon Edge (St Brigids, Edenderry)
64kg Ciara Ginty (Geesala)
75kg Aoife Burke (St Mary’s)
Juniors
46kg Kayleigh Lynch (Golden Gloves)
48kg Shauna Blaney (Navan)
50kg Kelsey Leonard (Curragh) (Bronze)
52kg Niamh Earley (Ryston) (Silver, at least)
57kg Orla Garvey (Dealgan)
60kg Shauna O’ Callaghan (Clann Naofa)
66kg Joanne Richards (St Michael’s New Ross) (Bronze)
Team manager: Fiona Hennigan
Coaches: Gerry Storey, Liam Brereton & Anita Just
R&J: Dermot McDermot
