By Aadi Nair
PARIS (Reuters) -Ireland’s Kellie Harrington and Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira made history by winning their respective lightweight quarter-finals and assuring themselves of a medal at the Paris Olympics while setting up a rematch of their final in Tokyo three years ago.
Defending champion Harrington got the better of Colombian Angie Valdes in a unanimous victory to become the first Irishwoman to win a medal at more than one Olympics.
“I came out here on July 29 and stepped into the ring and stepped back out of the ring and became a double Olympian. That is history and I’m very, very proud of myself,” Harrington said.
“Today I became a double Olympic medallist and that’s more history. I just know I have people up above looking down on me and they’re with me every step of the way.”
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ferreira was similarly dominant in her victory over Dutchwoman Chelsey Heijnen, winning all three rounds on every judge’s scorecard to become the first Brazilian boxer to claim two medals.
Asked what had changed since she fought Harrington in Tokyo, Ferreira said: “Man, I think I’ve matured a lot, right? We have had three more years.
“I had a lot of fights, professional fights. I believe I’ve been learning. I think every day I learn a little more. I hope to do everything differently this time, so that I can leave here victorious.”
The two will face off on Saturday.
In the men’s welterweight category, Lewis Richardson spared Britain’s blushes by winning his round of 16 bout against Serbia’s Vakhid Abbasov.
Richardson was the last remaining British boxer at the Olympics, after teammate Chantelle Reid suffered a 3-2 split decision loss to Morocco’s Khadija Mardi in a women’s middleweight bout earlier on Wednesday.
Australia also started the day on a tough note as men’s welterweight Shannan Davey lost to Bulgarian Rami Kiwan, adding to three defeats for Australian boxers on Tuesday.
However, middleweight Caitlin Parker gave Australian fans at the North Paris Arena something to cheer with a clinical unanimous win over Citlalli Ortiz, using her height and superior range to overwhelm the Mexican.
In Wednesday’s opening bout, Uzbekistan’s world and Asian Games champion Abdumalik Khalokov beat Sweden’s Nebil Ibrahim in the men’s featherweight division, before Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain of India defeated Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad in the women’s middleweight category.
Refugee Olympic team boxer Cindy Ngamba began her campaign by beating Canada’s Tammara Thibeault on a split decision in a middleweight round of 16 clash to reach the quarter-finals.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Paris; Editing by Ken Ferris)
