Three boxers due in Baku ring as swimmers progress

Three more Irish fighters are in the ring aiming for European Games medals in Baku today.

Tue, 23 Jun, 2015 - 11:19

Three more Irish fighters are in the ring aiming for European Games medals in Baku today.

Sean McComb faces Turkey’s Yasin Yilmaz at lightweight this morning, Dean Walsh meets Kastriot Sopa of Germany at light-welterweight and Adam Nolan takes on Josh Kelly of Britain at welterweight all in quarter-finals action.

[comment] Sean McComb[/comment]

Ireland’s swimmers had an impressive first morning in the pool with two progressing to semi-finals.

14-year-old Mona McSharry, competing at her first international championships, blazed through in the 50m breaststroke, the swim clocking an impressive 32.84 and knocking almost a second off her previous best.

The time earned her a place in this afternoon’s semi-final where she is ranked 14th overall. A delighted McSharry said: “I’m really happy with the swim and delighted to make the semi-final. I’ve been working on my starts and it came together in the race. I’m looking forward to relaxing now and cheering on my teammates before this afternoon’s semi-final”.

Emma Reid qualified in 17th place for the 200m Butterfly Semi-Final.

The Ards swimmer was just off her best touching in a time of 2 minutes 21.35 seconds. Holly Hibbott (2:12.07) and Amelia Clynes (2:13.15) of Great Britain claimed the top two spots in the event.

Today’s semi-finals will start with McSharry in the 50m Breaststroke at 1:30pm Irish time and Reid in the 200m Butterfly at 2:03pm.

They were the only two to progress as the entire Irish swimming squad of twelve were in opening day action in the pool. Danielle Hill was the last Irish swimmer in competition this morning in the heats of the 200m Backstroke. Hill, of Larne Swimming Club, posted a time of 2:21.41 which was off her Irish Junior Record (2:17.95) placing her 21st overall.

Ireland’s 3x3 women’s basketball team get their campaign underway against Slovenia at 3:30pm Irish time – with their final two games on tomorrow.

Chloe Magee has earned her first win in the badminton group stages, beating Kristine Sefere of Latvia 21-9 21-7 in Group F, before teaming up with brother Sam to beat the Lithuanian pair of Bartusis and Fomkinaite in straight sets 21-8 21-10 in the mixed doubles.

Scott Evans plays Belgian Yuhan Tan in the men’s singles tonight, while Sam and Josh Magee in the men’s doubles take on Angelo and Ricardo Silva of Portugal, and in the women’s doubles, it’s Sara Boyle and Rachel Darragh against French duo Lorraine Baumann and Audrey Fontaine.