ITF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022

We had 6 members compete at the recent ITF World Championships in the Netherlands. Joshua Byrne and Gar Fleming both gave a good account of themselves in their first-round fights but unfortunately faced strong opponents from Argentina who both went on to win their divisions. Amy Sullivan fought well against her UK opponent but somehow did not get the win on the judges score sheets. She bounced back the following day and helped earn the Irish Ladies team 4 bronze medals in the Team events. David O Donoghue earned a Silver medal in the Junior Heavyweight divisions with some very skilful fighting, losing a very close final to his UK opponent. Not to be outdone, David Lyons stepped up next in the Junior Hyper weight division and earned himself a spot in the final where he lost to a very strong Argentinean. Paul Manning, 10 years on from his first world championships gold in Canada 2012, defeated opponents from Spain and Argentina, before facing another Argentinean in the final of the Senior Welterweight division. He got the win and brought another gold medal back to Blackrock.