Taylor marches into last four as Smith bows out
Taylor, aiming for her fifth European gold medal in-a-row, beat Azerbaijani lightweight Ayzanat Hajiyeva 17-4 to set up a last-four clash with Sweden’s Helena Falk.
Having scored 54 points and conceded 14 in her three wins so far in Rotterdam, Taylor, who is now guaranteed at least bronze, will be favourite to advance to her fifth consecutive European final.
If she does do the double over Falk (she beat her last August in Bray as well) she’ll meet either Russian captain Sofya Ochigava or Denista Eliseeva of Bulgaria in Saturday’s final.
However, her coach and dad, Peter Taylor, is not looking that far ahead and reckons that Falk will pose a tough test.
“We know what to expect from Helena Falk as Katie met her just a few weeks ago and she beat her. She’s fast and explosive and we’re expecting a tough one, he said.
“We have a rest day tomorrow and Katie is looking forward to that as she’s had three fights in three days out here and that’s tough going by any standards.
“Katie always grows into a tournament and she was better again today against the Azerbaijani girl. It was a good win and we’re delighted with that and the performance.”
Cavan BC bantamweight Ceire Smith bowed out of the tournament following a 24-9 reversal to Poland’s Sandra Drabik, the 2011 European Union silver medallist.
Drabik was 3-2 ahead at the end of the first but pulled away in the final three rounds to deny the Irish fighter at least bronze.
Kilkenny light-heavy Lauragh O’Neill lost 16-7 to Tinea Naga in the 81Kg quarter-final in a repeat of the 2011 EU semi-final which the Hungarian won 26-10.
54Kg: Ceire Smith (Cavan) lost to Sandra Drabik (Poland) 9-24.
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Bray) beat Ayzanat Hajiyeva (Azerbaijan) 17-4.
81Kg: Lauragh O’Neill (Paulstown) lost to Tinea Naga (Hungary) 7-16
Friday: Semi-finals 60Kg: Katie Taylor (Bray) v Helena Falk (Sweden)
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