Spartacus boxer qualifies for European Championships

A 14-year old student in Tullamore's Sacred Heart School is set to compete in the prestigious European Boxing Championships later this year after being crowned the national boxing champion of her home country of Lituania.

Akvile Siupieniute, who has made her home in Tullamore with her family, boxes out of the Spartacus Boxing Club in Cloncollig and is hoping to emulate the success of local Olympian, Gráinne Walsh, who also started her boxing journey with the local boxing club.

Akvile, who is regarded as a natural boxing talent and an extremely hardworking athlete, was recently crowned the Lituanian boxing champion in the 54kg weight category, earning a spot at the European Boxing Championship in Germany in December.

The young athlete gave a series of hugely impressive performances on her journey to becoming the Lituanian national champion, winning all three of her fights in dominant fashion. She won her quarter-final and final 5-0, and overcome her opponent in the semi-final by technical knockout in round two.

Akvile will represent both Ireland and Lithuania on the European stage later this year, and she is wished the best of luck by her fellow students and staff in the Sacred Heart School with her preparations for the prestigious competition.

In a Facebook post, the school described Akvile as “a future boxing superstar in the making” and extended their congratulations to her on her “phenomenal performance” in Lithuania.