World Champ Amy Broadhurst moves to within one win of a European medal
World Champion Amy Broadhurst took step one along the road to European glory in Budva, Montenegro this evening.
Broadhurst showed all her skills and quality as she progressed to the European Championships quarter-final with relative ease.
The Louth star was too slick and too strong for Sema Caliskan of Turkey and won every round en route to the last eight.
The 2019 bronze medal winner, who won five underage European golds, joins Carly McNaul, Aoife O’Rourke, Michaela Walsh, Kaci Rock and Kellie Harrington among the Irish fighters one win away from a medal thanks to a 30-25, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
Broadhurst was composed and assured in the first round picking her moments and showing quality accuracy from the southpaw stance.
The Turk had spells of success but they were not as plentiful or as damaging as the one Broadhurst produced and the Irish fighter took the round 10-9 on all five cards.
Caliskan came out looking to find a route back into the fight in the second, but her aggression was punished by the Louth fighter who looks big and powerful at the weight.
Broadhurst countered well and on more than one occasion rattled the head of her foe back in a session she really enjoyed herself in.
The scoring went in her favour 4-1, with one judge going against her and another giving her a 10-8.
The talented underage graduate showed she is as adept at pushing forward as she is counterpunching as she sealed the deal in the last. She walked down the Turk at times, landing one-twos clean and ripping to the body with good effect in another one-sided stanza.
Aoife O’Rourke was equally impressive earlier in the day as she defeated Greek opposition to progress while European Under 22 champ Niamh Fay lost out to a Ukranian.
Team Ireland Squad
48kg: Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s, Mayo
50kg: Caitlin Fryers, Immaculata BC, Belfast
52kg: Carly McNaul, Ormeau Road BC, Belfast
54kg: Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
57kg: Michaela Walsh, Emerald BC, Belfast
60kg: Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Dublin
63kg: Amy Broadhurst, St. Bronagh’s ABC, Newry
66kg: Kaci Rock, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
70kg: Christina Desmond, Dungarvan BC/Garda BC
75kg: Aoife O’Rourke, Olympic BC, Galway
Coaches:
Zauri Antia
John Conlan
Dmitrij Dmitruk
Eoin Pluck
Physio
Rob Tuomey.
