Amir Khan commiserates with Connor following his semi-final defeat at Glasgow 2014.
Derry boxer Connor Coyle bowed out of the Commonwealth Games despite a gritty performance in his semi-final bout at Glasgow 2014 tonight.
The 24-year-old St Joseph’s ABC (Galliagh) fighter has to settle for a bronze medal after losing his middleweight semi-final on a unanimous points decision to Indian Vijender Singh, the former Olympic medallist, who is tipped to take the gold medal.
Connor: assured of a hero’s welcome on return to Derry.
Speaking afterwards Connor revealed he had gone into the contest with an injured hand sustained in the first round of his quarter-final victory.
He said: “I was only in second gear. I didn’t even getting going. I could do a lot better. I was in with one hand.”
He added: “I wanted the gold but what can you do, I came up with an injury half-way through the tournament, there is nothing I can do about it now. I just have to bite the bullet.”
Among the first to commiserate with Connor was former two-time world professional champion Amir Khan who was at ringside at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Earlier, fellow Connor’s fellow Derry fighter Sean McGlinchey also had to settle for bronze when he too lost his light-heavyweight semi-final on a unanimous points decision to the impressive David Nyika, the 18-year-old from New Zealand who was voted “Best Boxer” at last year’s Youth Championships.
Sean McGlinchey: done Derry proud.
Speaking afterwards, the 22-year-old Oak Leaf boxer, accepted his defeat gracefully.
He said: “I’ve got a bronze. I would have been happier with the gold but that’s the way things go but I was up against a very tough opponent. I wish him well in the final.”
Both Connor and Sean are the first boxers to win medals at the Commonwealth Games since Roy Nash won a silver at the 1986 Games in Edinburgh and no doubt will receive a hero’s welcome when the return to their home city.
Tags:
