Shock loss ends Harrington run

Reigning Olympic and European champion Kellie Harrington suffered a surprise defeat in the semi-final of the lightweight 60kg division at the European championships in Belgrade yesterday.

Natalia Shadrina ended Harrington’s 32-fight unbeaten run when securing a split-decision win over the Dubliner.

It was her first defeat in a championship bout since 2019 and her first loss at any level since being beaten in the preliminary round of the Strandja Cup in Sofia three years ago.

The 34-year-old brings home a bronze medal, as she did from the 2018 Euros in Sofia, as well as a cheque for $5,000 (€4,650), but this defeat will sting her ahead of her Olympic title defence in Paris.

In contrast, Tokyo Olympian Aoife O’Rourke remains on course for a third successive European middleweight title after a split-decision semi-final win over Isildar Busra from Turkey.

Though O’Rourke finished the last 30 seconds of the first round well, the Turk got the nod from four of the five judges after the opening stanza.

But the Castlerea fighter underlined her experience in the third round by keeping the Turk at bay with her boxing skills.

She won the bout on a split decision following a review.

Earlier, Westport’s Shannon Sweeney hit a career milestone when reaching her first European final. Boxing in the 50kg category, she achieved a unanimous 5-0 win in the semi-final over Anush Grigoryan from Armenia.