A University of Ulster graduate has added to the Northern Ireland medal haul at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Boxer Eamonn O’Kane won the gold medal in the middleweight division on Wednesday, becoming the first boxer from Northern Ireland to achieve that feat in 52 years.
O’Kane bridged the half a century gap of Terry Milligan’s win in 1958, with a commanding 16-4 victory over England’s Anthony Ogogo.
The 28-year-old, who graduated from the University of Ulster in 2004 with a BEng in Electronics and Computer Systems, added his gold medal to the gold medals that Paddy Barnes and Paddy Gallagher picked up for Team NI, and the silver medals gained by Thomas McCarthy and Steven Ward at the Games.
Dr Nigel Dobson, Co-Director of the Ulster Sports Academy, congratulated O’Kane saying: “We are absolutely delighted with Eamonn’s victory in Delhi. He was a recipient of a sports scholarship as a student here helping him on his road to success, and since graduating has been a great ambassador for the University and for sport in Northern Ireland. A massive congratulations goes to Eamonn, his family, and the entire NI squad at the Commonwealth Games for achieving so much success at these championships.”
O’Kane, who is from Dungiven, Co Derry, overpowered his English opponent in the final taking a 2-1 lead in a scrappy opening round. He followed this with a powerful display of strength and determination taking an 8-2 lead into the deciding round, where he was quicker and more accurate with every punch seeing out the contest 16-4.
The success of the boxers has lifted Northern Ireland to 12th in the medals table with a total tally of three gold, three silver and three bronze medals.