No medals in Russia – Last man standing Walker beaten in enthralling battle

And then there were none!

Kurt Walker excited the World Championships after defeat in Russia today.

The last man standing from a relatively inexperienced seven man team was defeated at the quarter-final stage.

The European Games gold medal winner lost in an highly entertaining bronze medal fight to Asian Champion and  #3 seed Tsendbaater Erdenebat.

The Mongolian registered a 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 victory that means Ireland go home from the major international tournament without a medal.

The squat and powerful Mongolian started and finished the first round well. He looked the stronger and more aggressive. He found a home for some big leaping shots early in the round and worked the body well when he pressed Walker to the ropes in the closing stages.

The Canal fighter did show flashes of quality in between, but the round most likely went the way of his opponent.

Walker was lighter on his feet early in the second and made Erdenebat fall short a lot. At one stage he punished his foe with a right that looked to hurt him – and as the round wore on his opponent appeared to tire. The Irish fighter took the initiative from there and began to push the strong foe back, registering a three minute display that looked to have up a final round decider. 

The final stanza was full of heart and quality. The first two minutes played out at range and whilst both were landing Walker looked like he may have been shading it. However, as the round wore on the Team Ireland fighter went head to head to with the talent Asian and played into his opponents hands.  Erdenebat managed to land some eye catching big shots from within the pocket to win the round.

 

2019 World Elite Men’s Championships Ekaterinburg, Russia

September 18

Q/Final

57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Tsendbaater Erdenebat (Mongolia)

Results

September 17

Last 16

57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Robin Basran (Canada) 5-0

September 16

Last 32

69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) lost to Pat McCormack (England) 2-3

Last 16

75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to Gleb Bakshi (Russia) 2-3

September 15

Last 32

57kg Kurt Walker beat David Avila (Columbia) 4-1
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Radoslav Panaleev (Bulgaria)1-4

September 14

Last 32

75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Vytautas Balsys (Lithuania) 5-0

September 13

Last 64

69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) beat Miroslav Kapuler-Cishchenko (Israel) 4-1

September 12

Last 64

52kg Regan Buckley (Ireland) lost to Aldoms Suquor (Indonesia) 2-3
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Matthew Alexander (Trinidad & Tobago) 2-3

September 10

Last 64

81kg Kane Tucker (Ireland) lost to Erkin Adylbek (Kyrgyzstan) 0-5
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat Austin Aokuso (Australia) 5-0

September 9

Last 64

75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Andre1 Vreme (Moldova) 5-0

Irish squad

52kg: Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s)
57kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)
63kg: Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)
69kg: Aidan Walsh (Monkstown)
75kg: Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg: Kane Tucker (Emerald)
91kg: Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne

Head coach: Zaur Antia

Coaches: John Conlan and Eoin Pluck