KEY WIN
Sandy Ryan defeats British rival to win gold in Bulgaria
TWO GB boxers won gold medals at the Balkan Women’s Tournament in Sofia on October 22, Natasha Gale at middleweight and welterweight Sandy Ryan. Victory in Bulgaria was particularly satisfying for Ryan, who took on Welsh rival Lauren Price and came away with a split decision victory.
“Three fights, three wins... Got a good win against Lauren Price from Wales today to secure a gold medal and cement my number one spot. After what I’ve been through this year, the downs, this means so much,” Ryan said. “I came to this tournament last year and won gold at 60kgs. Now I’ve won it at 69kgs.
“This is just the start for me I’m confident I can dominate this weight.”
Also in the Elite competition, at middleweight, European champion
Natasha Gale beat Russia’s
Yaroslava Yakushina to take gold, after chalking up a unanimous win over Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Huong. England’s Olivia Hussey won a Youth gold at 69kgs. RESULTS
Elite: 57: Helena Envall (Sweden) outpd Crystal Barker (England) split. 69: Sandy Ryan (England) outpd Irina Rykalova (Russia) unan, Lauren Price (Wales) outpd Elmira Azizova (Russia) split, Ryan outpd Marianne Ahlborg (Sweden) unan, Ryan outpd Price split. 75: Natasha Gale (England) outpd Nguyen Thi Huong (Vietnam) unan, Gale outpd Yaroslava Yakushina (Russia) split. Youth: 57: Giordana Sorrentino (Italy) outpd Sian O’toole (England) unan. 69: Olivia Hussey (England) outpd Melis Yonuzova (Bulgaria) split, Hussey outpd Natalia Sychugova (Russia) unan, Hussey outpd Patrycja Borys (Poland) unan. 75: Therese Edrud (Sweden) outpd Georgia O’connor (England) split.