Tipperary boxer Shakira Donoghue is upholding county's proud tradition in the sport

A Tipperary boxer maintained the county’s proud tradition in the sport with her selection on the Irish team for the World Youth Championship held in La Nucia, Spain, in November.

Shakira Donoghue from Templemore competed in the lightweight 54 kgs division.

A record-breaking 22-strong squad of youth champions represented Team Ireland at the event, the largest team ever fielded by the IABA at a world underage tournament.

A serial winner of domestic titles, she also wore the Irish singlet when she reached the quarter-finals of the European Youth Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria in the spring.

Following in the footsteps of Katie Taylor and Kellie Harrington, who have blazed an impressive trail for Irish female boxers, Shakira won two Irish titles during 2022, beginning with the Irish Under 18 national championship at 54 kgs earlier in the year. 

The Ursuline, Thurles student was the toast of the school and her club Templemore after she defeated her Kildare opponent Robyn Murran in February.

She followed that up by beating Leah O’Keeffe of Kanturk at the National Stadium in August to win her second national youth title of the year, which brought her haul of Irish titles to six in a career that holds much promise of further success.

Her achievements in 2022 earned her an Annerville sports award, sponsored by Bulmers.

Shakira and the other winners will be presented with their awards by the Tipperary United Sports Panel at a function at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel next Saturday night, January 21.