Harrington and Viitanen delighted the opener of the Tammer Tournament
Irelands two-time Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington opened her campaign with a victory over a teenage rival at the 46th edition of the Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland on Day1 but Vilma Viitanen also returned to the big events successfully.
The Tammer Tournament was launched in 1977 and the city of Tampere hosted the Mens Elite World Boxing Championships in 1993. Tampere was the host of the 2000 edition of the European Mens Elite Boxing Championships and Olympic qualification events.
Following the sessions on Friday and on Saturday, the finals will take place on the All Saints Day on November 1.
Irelands Kellie Harrington, the two-times Olympic Champion, had to miss the European Elite Boxing Championships this September due to her injury but she has recovered quickly to compete in the Tammer Tournament. The Irish star faced an 18-year-younger opponent, Swedens Lili Arman, a teenage talent in the womens 60kg and their meeting was a remarkable battle in Tampere. The 37-year-old Harrington was in shape and she opened her campaign with a unanimous success over the talented Swedish girl.
The surprise of the day
Netherlands Youth World bronze medallist Gabriela Weerheim progressed a lot this year and she competed at the 54kg and at the 57kg in the preparation tournaments. The Dutch girl was the favourite against Finlands Anna Tyni but she suffered a tight and unexpected loss to the local 57kg boxer on Day1.
The Round-Up
Indias Aarti Dhariyal impressed in the Golden Belt Tournament in Romania this July and she received the right to compete for her homeland in the Tammer Tournament as well. The event in Finland is the first event for the Indians after the Asian Games and Dhariyal proved her very best once again. The Indian landed the stronger punches than Swedens Britta Lia Tissel and she won the opening bout at the womens 54kg weight class.
Englands Ella Thompstone claimed a bronze medal at the 2025 edition of the Tammer Tournament and since then she progressed a lot in all aspects of boxing. Sacha Hickey represented England in the main events at the womens 65kg weight class but Thompstone proved her potential in the opening bout of the Tammer against Swedens Dina Daoud and she secured a comfortable 5:0 victory on Day1.
Switzerlands Anna Jenni had a tight loss to Hungarys eventual silver medallist Luca Hamori in the Round of 16 at the European Elite Boxing Championships in Sofia one month ago. Following that continental event, she returned to the preparation tournaments in Tampere and she was better than Australias Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Eve Bryson in her opener at the womens 65kg weight class.
Indias Arundhati Choudhary achieved a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this July and she returned to the international stage after three months. The 24-year-old Indian used her longer hands to catch Finlands Vilma Kuusikko and she controlled all of the three rounds on their meeting at the womens 70kg weight class.
Indias former Commonwealth Games medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin is a 32-year-old veteran athlete who competed in all levels of boxing during his long career. Hussamuddin is No.2 behind Sachin in the Indian national team at the mens 60kg weight class currently but he is among the top boxers in the Tammer Tournament. Hussamuddin felt the distance well against Scotlands Luca Flynn and he started his campaign with a unanimous success over his European rival.
Finlands Vilma Viitanen returned to the world of boxing as many of the women boxers this year and she registered to the 57kg weight class for this Tammer Tournament. Finlands No.1 had a tough first rival, Irelands European U22 Champion Niamh Fay but she managed her pathway to the semi-finals. She will be boxing with Frances European U19 Champion Maloe Teresi in the second day of the competition.