England's Nicola Adams (left) fights with Sri Lanka's Erandi de Silva during a women’s fly (48-51 kg) quarter-final boxing match at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. (AFP)
England’s Nicola Adams remained on course to add Commonwealth gold to her Olympic title after cruising through to the semi-finals of the women’s flyweight boxing.
The 31-year-old was awarded an unanimous win by the judges in her bout against Erandi de Silva of Sri Lanka.
“I was really pleased and everything went to plan. I think as long as you stick to the tactics and listen to the coaches you will always do well,” Adams, who knocked her opponent down in the first round, said.
Standing between Adams and a place in the final is Canada’s Mandy Bujold, who easily saw off the challenge of Australia’s Kirsty Harris. Joining them in the last four tomorrow are Michaela Walsh from Northern Ireland and Pinki Rani of India.
Scotland’s hope of a gold medal in the ring are still alive after Stephen Lavelle progressed to the last four of the men’s heavyweight competition following his unanimous win against Indian Amritpreet Amritpreet-Singh. His opponent in the semi-final will be New Zealand’s David Light who despatched Kenyan Charles Okoth.
England’s Warren Baister saw his hopes of a medal disappear when he suffered a split decision defeat to Canada’s Samir El-Mais.
El-Mais will face Efetobor Apochi in his last-four bout after the Nigerian recovered from losing the first round of his quarter-final to Australian Jai Opetaia to progress to the semi-finals.
Sean McGoldrick of Wales is guaranteed at least a bronze after he progressed to the last four of the men’s bantamweight after defeating South Africa’s Ayabonga Sonjica.
McGoldrick will meet Michael Conlan tomorrow following the Northern Irishman’s unanimous points win over Bashir Nasir of Uganda.
Old rivals Scotland and England clashed as Joe Ham took on Qais Ashfaq who bossed the contest to progress with a unanimous decision. He will box Benson Njangiru for a place in the final after the Kenyan won a fiercely contested bout against Tafari Ebanks of the Cayman Islands.
There was more good news for Northern Ireland in the women’s lightweight with Alanna Audley-Murphy guaranteed a bronze following her defeat of Dominica’s Valerian Spicer.
She will meet Shelley Watts in the last four after the Australian was awarded a technical knockout of Isabelle Ratna of Mauritius in the second round of their bout.
The other semi-final will be contested between India’s Laishram Devi and Maria Machongua of Mozambique.
