2011 European Youth Championships

22 Aug 2011


The Irish Youth squad put the finishing touches to their preparations today ahead of the opening bell for the eagerly anticipated 2011 European Youths Championships.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association hosted Championships glove off at the Citywest Convention Centre in Dublin tomorrow.

Over 200 talented young boxers from 38 nations will be competing in the Irish capital.

Hosts Ireland, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Germany, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine will be using a full compliment of 10 boxers, while Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania have sent eight athletes to Dublin.

World and European Junior champs Gasan Gimbatov and Igor Kharitonov and AIBA World Youth bronze medalist, Vasiliy Vetkin, are included in the Russian panel.

Lithuania's Youth Olympic champion, Ricardas Kumcaitis, and compatriot, Eimantas Stadionis, a bronze medal winner at the European Junior Championships, will also be competing in Dublin.

Germany will also be out in force, with bantamweight Theo Krechlok, the current AIBA World Junior champ, 2011 Brandenburg Cup gold medalist - Ireland's Michael O'Reilly claimed gold at welterweight and the boxer of the tournament award at same - Philip Nsingi, and European Junior bronze medalist, Roman Freiss, included in their squad.

Polish Youth champ Dawid Jagodzinski is in at light-flyweight, while Bulgaria's Denislav Suslekov, a bronze medal winner at the AIBA World Youth Championships, will also be taking part.

Armenia's AIBA Junior World Champion Koryun Soghomonyan, Azerbaijan's European Junior Championships silver medalist Rauf Rakhimov, and Georgia's AIBA Junior World Championships silver medalist Aleko Chadashvili will also be trading leather by the banks of the Liffey.

IABA President Tommy Murphy said: "We are very proud to be hosting the European Youth Championships in our Centenary year and we extend a warm welcome to all the nations taking part in this prestigious tournament.

"The young boxers for all over Europe that will be competing in Dublin are the future of our sport and we are all looking forward to what will be a fantastic sporting occasion."

Visit www.iaba.ie for weigh-in times, draw and start times.

Boxing begins at 2pm tomorrow followed by the opening ceremony.

European Youth Championships Citywest Hotel Dublin August 22nd/27th

Irish Squad

  • 49Kg: Evan Metcalfe (Crumlin)
  • 52Kg: Joe Fitzpatrick (Immaculata)
  • 56Kg: George Bates (St Mary's)
  • 60Kg: Michael McDonagh (St Mary's)
  • 64Kg: Kieran Forde (Monivea)
  • 69Kg: Michael O'Reilly (Portlaoise)
  • 75Kg: Stephen Broadhurst (Dealgan)
  • 81Kg: Gary Sweeney (All Stars)
  • 91Kg: Jack Morrissey (Sacre Coeur)
  • 91+Kg: Thomas Conroy (Ballyhaunis)


Team Manager: Joe Hennigan
Coaches: Billy McClean, Tony Davitt, Gus Farrell and Paddy Hughes.
Physio: Eoin Naughton