Ireland Boxing coach Jim Moore is quietly confident that they can do well at the 2007 World Cadet Championships which begin in Azerbaijan this Friday.
The five man Irish squad arrived in Baku on Monday last and are putting the finishing touches to their preparations ahead of the ten day tournament at the Heydar Aliyev Sports Hall by the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Russia will be strong favourites in Baku having already collected 46 medals from the five previous World Cadet Championships, including 23 gold.
The Ukraine are traditionally strong at this level, also having claimed 29 medals up to this point, while Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have 26 medals each to their name.
The draw for the 2007 World Cadet Championships will be held this Friday and Moore, speaking from Azerbaijan, is looking ahead to a tournament which will feature 230 boxers representing 39 nations.
He said: ‘We will be keeping our fingers cross for a favourable draw on Friday as there are some very strong nations out here.
‘It is also extremely warm and humid in Baku at the moment so that is something we will have to cope with also.
‘The squad have prepared well for this tournament and we are quietly confident that we will do well.’
The 2007 World Cadet Championships conclude on September 9th.
Irish Squad and Management for 2007 World Cadet Championships:
50kg: Tyrone McCullagah (Illies Golden Gloves)
60kg: Paddy Harkin (St Brigid's Clonmany)
63kg: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley Donegal)
66kg: Conrad Cummins (Clonoe)
70kg: Bernard Roe (Dublin Docklands)
Team Manager: Sean Canavan
Coaches: Jim Moore and Jim Payne
R&J: Sadie Duffy
Physio: Mark Adams
