MEDAL ALERT – Emotional Broadhurst beats former world champ to reach European Championship podium
A year after her World Championship heartache Amy Broadhurst cried quarter final rears of a different kind in Madrid today.
The lightweight was full of joy as she secured a second medal for Ireland in the European Women’s Championships.
The Dundalk fighter produced a brilliant display to overcome Russia’s 2014 World Elite champion and tournament #3 seed Anastasia Belikova to move into the semi finals of the prestigious tournament – ensuring bronze at the very least in the process.Â
The victory secured the young southpaw her first elite senior International medal and now means she is is a medalist at European Youth, Under-22 and Elite level.
The result never looked in doubt but having being hard done by in last years World Championships at the same stage, Broadhurst was nervous come scorecard time and had to fight back tears of joy when she was confirmed the victor by unanimous decision.
The scorecards read 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.
The victory, which see’s the Louth fighter fulfill her underage promise, now means Ireland have two separate 60kg 2019 European medal winners. Broadhurst joins Kellie Harrington as a lightweight Continental podium puncher and will be looking to at least equal the Dublin natives European Games silver medal win on Friday- Harrington couldn’t compete in the final due to injury.
Braodhurst will now face Mira Potkonen — who eliminated Katie Taylor from the Rio Olympics and has twice beaten Harrington — in Friday’s semis
The reigning 64kg National Elite Champion looked to have got off to a great start. Faster feet and combination bursts enabled her to open a lead early in the round. Possibly aware the first stanza was slipping away from her the Russian tried to force the issue somewhat in the later stages of the round only to be counter punched by the Irish fighter.
The Russian was more active in the second stanza, but was being caught by some strong single shot back hands. Indeed, in the second minute of the round Broadhurst started to land clean and regular and threatened to give the #3 seed a standing count.
Seemingly aware she needed a big final round the Russian came out strong early in the third. To her credit she tried to turn around the fight, but Broadhurst showed skill and will on occasion to make sure the medal wasn’t going to slip from her grasp and again finished the innings with accurate and heavy shots.
Cork’s Christina Desmond will be looking to emulate the success and join Aoife O’Rourke and Broadhurst in the semi finals later this afternoon as she takes on Darima Sandakova.
Rosscommon middleweight Aoife O’Rourke is in action in the 75kg semi-final on Friday against Russia’s Anastasia Shamonova.
O’Rourke is guaranteed at least bronze by virtue of reaching the last four.
Thursday is a rest day at the 31-national tournament.
European Women’s Elite Championships Madrid, Spain August 22/31
August 28
Q/Finals
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Anastasia Belokova (Russia)
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Darima Sandakova (Russia)
August 30
S/Final
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) v Anastasia Shamonova (Russia)
Results
August 27
Last 16
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Leonie Anna Van Leeuwen (Netherlands) 5-0
August 26
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Naz Buse Cakiroglu (Turkey) 0-5
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Dominika Ciklova (Czech Republic) 5-0
Q/Final
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Tetiana Petrovich (Ukraine) 5-0
August 25
Last 32
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Krisztina Beri (Hungary) RSC2
Irish squad
51kg: Ceire Smith (Cavan/Virginia)
60kg: Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg: Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
75kg: Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) (Bronze, at least)
Team manager: JP Kinsella
Coaches: Zaur Antia and Damian Kennedy
Physio; David Cooke