4 Medals | 77th Strandja

1 March 2026 by Ciara Plunkett

Team Ireland will return from the 77th Strandja tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, with 4 medals.

Mchaela Walsh will bring silver, after an agonisingly close final against Uzbekistan’s Nigina Uktamova.The bout ended in a 3-2 split decision for Uktamova. Michaela’s path to the podium has included wins over Paris Olympian, USA’s Alyssa Mendoza, Brazil’s Jessica Dias Coutinho and Italy’s Madalina Madalina Grabucea

Team Ireland’s bronze medalists were awarded their accolades today.

Caitlin Fryers contesting at 51kg recorded valuable wins over Bulgaria’s Venelina Poptoleva and Anita Adisheva of Kazakhstan en route to bronze.

57kg Niamh Fay got to the semi finals by way of wins over Khumorabonu Mamajonova and Turkey’s Ece Asude Ediz.

And 65kg Grainne Walsh‘s Strandja journey included wins over Haziel Krishna Franco Santos of Brazil and Armenia’s Elida Kocharyan.

In all, 209 men and 129 women contested the tournament, Europe’s oldest multi-nations competition.

Watch

The Bulgarian Boxing Federation is expected to stream the tournament, live, on it’s YouTube channel

Links, per ring and session, are generally published on the day of boxing.

Morning sessions begin at 10am, Irish time, while Evening Sessions will get underway at 3pm.

Team Ireland