Lily Bassett Reflects on Junior European Championships
July 16, 2024 | by Nabillah Akhtar
Teenager Lily Bassett dazzled at the Junior European Championships in Sarajevo, clinching her second European Champion title and was named ‘Best Female Boxer’ of the tournament.
In the Female Under 46kg final, Bassett showcased her skills by securing a unanimous decision victory over Syuzanna Ishkhanyan of Armenia.
Reflecting on her triumph, the Londoner said, “Winning the Euros twice has left me feeling on top of the world, it’s the best feeling ever. All the work I put in definitely paid off.
Leading up to the tournament, my preparation increased – I trained twice a day, five times a week with my coach, Marcus and team at TM Boxing. Every weekend ahead of the competition, I spent at training camps with Team England and this is where I got most of my sparring experience from, as I fought against some of the best girls around the country.”
She continued: “Being apart of Team England at the tournament felt like being away with my family. We looked out for one another, cheered each other on and encouraged teammates to keep pushing forward. Team work definitely makes the dream work!
The best part of the trip was winning my gold medal and picking up the ‘Best Female Boxer’ of the tournament. I can’t wait to do it all over again.”
England enjoyed further success, earning three silver and three bronze medals. Siobhan Hayley, Shannon Warren, and Tobias Taylor reached their respective semi-finals, while Joseph Dowson, Rihanna Holden, and Thabiso Moyo came close to claiming gold.
Rihanna Holden, already a familiar face on the European stage, effortlessly added another silver to her collection. Newcomers Thabiso Moyo and Joseph Dowson also made impressive debuts; Dowson initially began boxing for fitness during the Covid-19 pandemic, while Moyo started the sport to honour her mother.
The tournament, held from June 21st to July 3rd, featured a team of 17 English boxers. They were supported by Team Manager, Martin Webb and coaches Mick Maguire, Chris Lodge, John Hodkinson, Carl Ellis, and Louise Vidor.
Medallists:
Bronze – Female Under 57kg: Siobhan Hayley
Bronze – Female Under 70kg: Shannon Warren
Bronze – Male Under 80kg: Tobias Taylor
Silver – Female Under 75kg: Thabiso Moyo
Silver – Female Under 63kg: Rihanna Holden
Silver – Male Under 46kg: Joseph Dowson
Gold – Female Under 46kg: Lily Bassett
