Ceire Smith’s Rio dream ends after qualification defeat in Astana

Ceire Smith believes her intense pursuit of victory cost her against Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia at the World Women’s Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan yesterday.

The Cavan BC flyweight dropped a majority decision (38-38, 39-37, 39-37) on a day when Sweden’s Agnes Alexiusson beat Italy’s Rio Olympian Irma Testa to set up tomorrow’s last-32 lightweight clash with Katie Taylor.

Smith’s exit to Valencia, who qualified for Rio after beating America’s Virginia Fuchs — with ex Irish coach Billy Walsh working Fuchs’ corner — in Buenos Aires earlier this year, means Ireland will not have a female flyweight at Rio 2016.