Disappointment for Gráinne Walsh at world championships
Tullamore boxer Gráinne Walsh came out on the wrong end of a split decision against Uzbekistan's Navbakhor Khamidova at the women's world boxing championships in Serbia this evening.
The 29-year-old Offaly woman was making her world championship debut but was handed one of the toughest draws possible against Khamidova, the reigning Asian champion and number two seed at 66kg.
Walsh started strongly, however, with her aggression and sharp combinations seeming to unsettle her opponent.
She appeared to have won the opening round - however three of the judges awarded it to Khamidova, with the other two favouring Walsh.
From there it was always going to be an uphill battle, and it was one that became even more difficult in the second round.
With a little over a minute left in the round, Khamidova landed a left-right combination. The blows didn't appear to trouble Walsh unduly, but the Columbian referee decided to step in and give her a standing count.
And at the end of the round there was another setback when the referee - again seemingly harshly - docked Walsh a point following some holding of which both boxers appeared to be equally guilty.
Despite the knowledge that the contest was slipping away from her, the Tullamore woman battled courageously in the last round and continued to land some good punches.
On social media, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) praised the "storming performance" by Gráinne Walsh this evening.
"Khamidova is a fellow Olympian, the reigning Asian champ and medaled at the 2023 Women’s Worlds," stated the IABA.
"In a very tough, testy and close bout, the split decision went to Grainne's opponent."
It has been a hugely disappointing world championships for the eight-member Irish boxing team in Nis, Serbia, so far. The six Irish boxers who have stepped through the ropes so far have all lost their bouts.
The only remaining Irish boxers in the tournament are Roscommon sisters Lisa and Aoife O'Rourke, who will be boxing tomorrow and Thursday respectively.