Harrington delight at winning return

Former world elite champion Kellie Harrington is delighted to be back under pressure. The Dublin lightweight convincingly beat Poland’s European finalist Aneta Rygielska on a unanimous decision yesterday to book her place in today’s quarter-finals at the Strandja multi-nations in Sofia.

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Yesterday’s outing was her first competitive bout since a hand injury forced her to pull out of the European Games final with Finland’s Mira Potkonen in Minsk last June. Harrington and Potkonen, who beat Dundalk southpaw Amy Broadhurst yesterday, could meet in the Stranda final on Saturday.

But, for now, Harrington is glad to be back between the ropes ahead of the European qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 in London in March where a top-six finish will secure an Olympics place.

«Good to be back in there today and good to get off to a winning start. It has been a tough few months with injuries, but we’re back on the right track,» she said. «This is all preparation toward the Olympic qualifiers in March in London. It’s brilliant to be part of the team again and get back into that environment where you’re working under pressure. I’m getting there slowly.»

Meanwhile, Cavan flyweight Ceire Smith beat Morocco’s Rabab Cheddar to claim her second win of the tournament.

Michaela Walsh, whose brother Aidan lost to Johnson Delante of the USA, European champion Kurt Walker and George Bates also won. But Michael Nevin, Kieran Molloy, Carly McNaul, Dean Clancy and Wayne Kelly lost. Nevin was shaded on a 3-2 split decision by Brazil’s world elite bronze medallist Herbert Souza.

Dublin heavyweight Kiril Afanasev was withdrawn from his bout with Georgia’s Nikolaz Begadze because of a hand injury sustained in his win over Belgium’s Victor Schelstraette.

Harrington, Walker, Walsh, Bates, Smith, Christina Desmond and Aoife O’Rourke fight in the last eight today.