Ireland to send four-man team to World University Championships

Ireland will send a four-man team to the World University Championships in the Russian city of Elista next week.

After entering just one of the first seven tournaments, the Irish Athletic Third-Level Boxing Association will compete at the major championships for the second successive edition

Four male fighters will fight in Russia – Ricky Nesbitt, Sean Purcell, Terry McEntee, and Matthew McCole.

Dundalk’s Ricky Nesbitt, a student at DKIT, was the Irish Senior light flyweight runner-up in February and has since moved up to flyweight for these championships.

Kilkenny bantam Purcell, a student at WIT, has entered the adult ranks this year having previously represented Ireland at major championships as an underage boxer.

Monaghan lightweight McEntee, a student at DCU, won bronze at the European Youths in 2016 and is the reigning Irish Intermediate champion.

Donegal light welter McCole, a student at LYIT, has ample experience domestically, competing in numerous Senior Championships.

The Irish team will jet out to the Caspian city on Thursday, with boxing beginning on Sunday.

At the last edition of the competition, in 2016, a five-boxer Ireland team won two bronze medals courtesy of Kenny Okungbowa and Christine Desmond.