Northern Ireland enjoys its best day at Delhi CWG
Northern Ireland had its best day ever at Delhi Commonwealth games on October 13, 2010, as the country ended with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals in boxing competition of all weight categories. Though the medals in boxing competition came
on the finals’ day, however, the winners preferred joining the podium with shooting winners David Calvert and Matthew Hall and Gary Kelly, the bowler to make the day more enjoyable and rather memorable for the province.
Adding up the medals attained by the cycling champions Wendy Houvenaghel, Philip Lavery, Martyn Irvine, David McCann and Sean Downey to the list, Northern Ireland stands with altogether 10 medals in its pocket. The performance of boxing players have made
the day rather historical and memorable for their homeland.
Despite of staggering success in number of other sports, spectators from Northern Ireland rather looked happy over the success of their boxers who proudly topped the medal table. The best example in this regard was set by Eamonn O’Kane who happens to be
the captain of the boxing team.
Eamonn O’Kane had quit boxing for around four years ago and during the time he was quite out of touch with it, however, with the decision to represent his country in the Delhi Commonwealth games, he worked hard to get into shape again and to build his stamina
for the game. O’Kane bagged the gold medal after marvellously hammering out Anthony Agogo of England by 16-4 in a middleweight match.
After his marvellous success, O’Kane has succeeded in joining the Commonwealth games champions Paddy Barnes and Paddy Gallagher. The team Northern Ireland has shown its best results after Commonwealth game of 1994 in Canada, when it bagged two gold and two
silver medals.
When approached by the media personnel, the immaculate boxer said that he had been thinking whole day for what could that happen to him. He further said that it was like a dream come true for him; he confessed that he did not think of the phenomenal success
embracing him.
O’Kane further said that at time of winning the competition he was 28 years old and that was an age at which he could have been regarded as the old man of the amateur boxing. However, he said that it was the support of his fans that helped him, making him
capable of titling the big event. He told the media that the support extended from his wife and child had contributed a lot for making him the boxer he was.
Celebrating his success, the overjoyed boxer further said that it was the best day of his career; it was rather unbelievable to have such a remarkable day and a fantastic team. He said that the things around him were too good to be true.
Paddy Barnes added royals for Team Northern Ireland, as he won the Delhi Commonwealth games gold medal and added it to his European title and Bronze medal from the Olympics. Paddy defeated Jafet Uutoni in light-flyweight final by 8-4.
Barnes, while giving his views, said that he had always felt his game under his complete control, however in the finals, the Namibian boxer made it rather difficult for him to stay in. He further said that despite of some of the stupid shots which he made,
he had the confidence of striking back. He said that he knew it very well that it was rather impossible for his opponent to get past his tight defence.
It is to be remembered that Barnes is the first success for Northern Ireland in any sport for three consecutive Commonwealth games. In boxing, Barnes made it to the gold after 16 years, since Neil Sinclair and Jim Webb made it in the Commonwealth games held
in Victoria.
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