(JUNE 5) England’s Olympic Gold
Medallist Nicola Adams went ‘crashing out’ of the 2014 Women’s
Elite European Championships at the Polyvalent Hall in Bucharest
Wednesday, suffering a shock 3:0 defeat to Bulgaria’s Stoyka
Petrova in their quarter-final meeting. The judges scored it,
all in favour of Petrova, 40:36 39:37 39:37.
Adams, who has been hoping to take the title for a second
successive time, started slowly and never reached the heights of
her London 2012 success as she lost for the first time in two
years. Speaking to the media later the Leeds woman had this to
say:
“Although I was not at my best today, I felt I had done enough
to go through however sometimes the judges just do not see it
your way.
“The most important thing is to come back stronger than ever and
my priority now is to make sure I am in the best possible
condition for the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships
later in the year.”
In Friday’s semi-finals Petrova will meet Hungary’s Katalin
Ancsin whilst Russia’s impressive Saiana Sagataeva meets French
woman, Wassila Lkhadiri. On Bucharest form to date, one would
anticipate a final between the Russian and Bulgarian but a few
hours ago few would have expected Adams to miss out on even
Bronze after those heady days of Summer 2012?
The lightweight division
proceeded as expected with Olympic Gold medallist Katie Taylor
gaining a TKO4 decision over the young Romanian challenger Ioana
Mera. The Romanian was disappointed not to have lasted the
distance but Taylor was at her best today. Coach and Dad Peter
together with Zuar Antia had obviously done their homework as
she was in complete control from the opening bell.
She later told ‘The Irish Times’ that ‘The tactics have always
been spot on and goes for all the (Irish) girls this week,” said
Taylor modestly. “She was a very young boxer and I think she is
very, very inexperienced. I think she showed a lot of heart in
there as well.”
It was good to see after the final bell tolled that coaches
Taylor and Antia spent some moments ‘hugging’ the young Romanian
as indeed did Katie whose words of encouragement ringside will
have helped Mera overcome her initial disappointment that she
had not lasted all four rounds. Mera will be wiser and more
experienced when next the pair meet.
Later on Facebook Ioana thanked all of her army of supporters
for their ‘commiserations’ and said of Taylor : “It was a hard
match, she truly is a golden girl !!”
Next up for the Irish champion who today gained her 21st
consecutive European Championships win is her old adversary
Denitsa Eliseeva from Bulgaria.
Russia’s AIBA World no.4 Sofya Ochigava also won – against
Germany’s Tasheena Bugar as convincingly as the 40:36 40:36
39:37 judges scorecards indicate. Few would bet against a repeat
of the 2012 World Championships and Olympic Finals again on
Friday. Ochigava meets Estelle Mossely of France in Thursday’s
second semi-final.
Another Russian who went through today (at 54kg) was AIBA World
No 5, Elena Saveleva who met fierce resistance from Ireland’s
Michaela Walsh, 21 years old tomorrow, but Saveleva won through
2:0 with the French judge calling it 38:38. Walsh told ‘The
Irish Times’ later: “I knew it was going to be a tough fight.
She was a European champion and she was at the Olympics,” said
the Belfast challenger.
“I got so close just to get beaten before the medal stages was a
pity. I wished my opponent the best of luck. Hopefully she can
go on and get the gold. I’ll be back and I’ll be stronger.”
Also out is Ireland’s 57kg representative Joanne Lambe from
Carrickmacross who fought a gallant fight against world no.4
Svetlana Staneva Kamenova (Bulgaria).
No complaints either from Lambe about the unanimous decision for
her opponent – she simply said : “Tough fight, a very technical
fight today. A lot more patience was involved. I went out in the
last two rounds and I had to give it everything. I did my best.”
England’s Natasha Jonas gained a convincing win at 64kg against
Italy’s Valentina Alberti and later told the assembled media :
“I feel like I am starting to get my best form back now after a
mixed start to the year.” said Liverpool’s Jonas.
“It is great to have secured another major medal, however the
competition is still on-going so I am just focusing on my next
bout and ensuring I go as far as possible in this tournament.”
That bout will be against the host nation’s Simona Sitar with
the winner facing either Russia’s Anastasia Beliakova or
Poland’s Siwa Kinga in Friday’s final.
Championships results to date are here courtesy of that
excellent Polish boxing website Strefa :
http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/European_wom_Champs2014.html
For Friday’s Semi-Finals line-up see here:
http://www.eubcboxing.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/C58D0606.CP_.pdf
