POWER & THE GORY Adams battles to beat bitter Walsh
More medal mania as England strike it rich again
NICOLA ADAMS leapt on the ropes to hail another gold medal, but no way was this a triumph to rival her glorious win at London 2012.
Her opponent, Michaela Walsh, insisted she had been “cheated” as Adams won a split decision to become the first ever female Commonwealth Games boxing champion – just as she had done at the Olympics two years ago.
Adams’ trademark crowdpleasing smile was there on the face of the flyweight dynamo from Leeds, but there was sympathy for Northern Ireland’s Walsh, who is now vowing revenge in Rio.
Two judges, from Argentina and Brazil, scored the fourround contest level, with the other from Kazakhstan handing the gold to Adams by a single point.
Verdict
Walsh, 21, claimed Adams’ celebrity had earned her the verdict, insisting: “I feel I’ve been cheated. I know I won it and if she watches it again she will know I got it.
“I know I have a silver round my neck but I just want to spray-paint it gold because I believe that title is mine.
“That is the way it goes – she’s a great ambassador for women’s sport and congratulations to her.
“At the Europeans in June I was up against the world champion from Russia and it was another close fight.
“I should have got it but they gave it to her. That’s the way it goes when you are up against big names. I just hope she stays amateur because believe you me I’ll have gold around my neck in Rio.”
Adams said she was confident she would get the verdict but nobody in the Glasgow Hydro was certain.
It was a scrappy final – at times it looked as if it would be more at home in the wrestling arena next door – with only the third round going decisively to the Olympic champion.
But Adams, 31, said: “It was a close contest but I did enough to win. I had the more eye-catching shots.
“I feel for her. I have been in that situation myself at the 2012 World Championships. But she will come again.
“It meant everything to me. I was jumping on the ropes and tapping my chest. I was so happy I had made history again. I will keep going until I can box no longer.
“There are the World Championships in November. I have won three silvers there before so it is about time I won gold.”
England’s Qais Ashfaq was outpointed by Northern Ireland’s Michael Conlan in the bantamweight final. The 21-year-old said: “It’s been an amazing experience but it just wasn’t my day.” TIME-TRIAL champion Alex Dowsett fears a strong Australian challenge in today’s road race – with sprint specialist Mark Renshaw expected to be unleashed.
Dowsett said: “I hear the Australians are bringing Renshaw so maybe they are going to want to control the race for a sprint finish.
“England doesn’t have that option. Scott Thwaites has got a kick on him but whether it is enough to beat Renshaw, I don’t know.”
Wales star Geraint Thomas, who won bronze in the time trial, said: “It will be like the Grand National, it’s difficult to predict but I expect a war of attrition.” ENGLAND blew the chance of a famous victory for the second weekend in a row after a 35-34 loss TWO seconds from the end of their semi-final with New Zealand.
England led by three goals with six minutes left but, just as in last Saturday’s group match against Australia, they were denied late on, and the Commonwealth champions and the Aussies will meet in today’s final.
England face Jamaica for a fourth bronze in five Games.