Ireland’s Grainne Walsh will return from the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool with a bronze medal as her bid to reach the final of the 65kg division fell short against Kazakhstan’s Aida Abikeyeva.
The County Offaly woman secured a place on the podium with a quarter-final win over China’s Yang Liu on Wednesday, but found Abikeyeva a bridge too far as the Kazakh won on a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 4).
Walsh sought a fast start, springing from her corner and immediately letting her hands go, backing Abikeyeva with accurate shots.
However, Abikeyeva settled behind her long jab in what was a competitive opener and she had earned the nod from three of the five judges.
Enjoying the height and reach advantage, Abikeyeva was happier to keep the fight at distance as Walsh tried to find a route inside. She enjoyed some success with a high work-rate, but was getting picked off with the Kazakh in something of a groove to extend her advantage going into the final round.
Abikeyeva had a healthy lead as Walsh was forced to chase it in the third, throwing what she had at the Kazakh but is was not enough as her tournament ended with a bronze medal.
The two remaining Irish boxers are in action on Saturday. Aoife O’Rourke will bid to upgrade her bronze medal when she takes on China’s Chengyu Yang in the 75kg semi-final, while Patsy Joyce will seek to do likewise against Spain’s Rafael Serrano Lozano in the men’s 55kg category.
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