Split decision heartache for Smith and Walsh
Both Ceire Smith and Michaela Walsh suffered defeat in the World Women’s Elite Championships this morning.
The Cavan flyweight and the Belfast feather both bowed out via split decision defeat in at the Sports Complex in Ulan-Ude, Siberia this morning
Smith was edged out on a 3-2 split by North Korea’s No. 1 seed Mi Choi Pang, while Walsh was adjudged to have lost 4-1 – 30-27,30-27,29-28,29-28, 28-29 – to Liudmila Vorontsova of Russia.
Smith had a good first round against Choi Pang, the current World and Asian 51kg champion. The Pyongyang orthodox was on the floor late in the frame but that was ruled a slip.
A pressure fighter, the World No. 1 probably won the second round while neither boxer managed to land a telling blow in the final stanza.
Final scores – 30-27,29-28,29-28 to Choi Pang and 29-28,29-28 to Smith.
Walsh countered well in all three rounds against the aggression of Vorontsova but four of the five judges leaned toward the busy Ulan-Ude native and former European Youth champion.
The results half Ireland’s 2019 World’s representation with Christina Desmond and Amy Broadhurst still flying the flag.
Dundalk lightweight Broadhurst and Cork welter Desmond are in action in the last 16 tomorrow versus Poland and Canada – and both will be hoping to take a significant step toward a medal.
Click here for Wednesday’s schedule. Ulan-Ude is seven hours ahead of Ireland and local times apply.
World Women’s Elite Championships Ulan-Ude, Siberia, Russia
October 8
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Mi Choi Pang (North Korea) 2-3
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Liudmila Vorontsova (Russia) 1-4
October 9
Last 16
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Aneta Rygielska (Poland)
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Myriam Da Silva (Canada)
Results
October 8
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Mi Choi Pang (North Korea) 2-3
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Liudmila Vorontsova (Russia) 1-4
October 6
Last 32
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Maya Kleinhans (Germany) 5-0
October 5
Last 32
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Carmara Fatoumata (Mali) 5-0
October 4
Last 32
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Sandy Ryan (England) 4-1
October 3
Last 32
51kg: Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Taylah Robertson (Australia) 5-0
Irish squad
51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)
High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne
Head coach: Zaur Antia
Coaches: Dimitry Dimitruk and Damian Kennedy
