BMA Clondalkin fighters and coaches celebrate after winning 19 medals, including eight gold, at the 2026 Celtic Open in Tallaght Photo by Maria Reynolds
BMA delivers medal masterclass
BMA Clondalkin had a superb day at the 2026 Celtic Open in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght. Fifteen fighters from the club won 19 medals between them with eight gold, two silver, and nine bronze.
Anna Daly won gold and Julia Mulhern took bronze in the junior girls’ under 60kg beginners points fighting division, and Yasmeen Whelan won a silver medal of her own.
Louise Shortt carried on her fine form from the Way of the Warrior fight night with a full set of medals.
She won gold in light contact, silver in the open weight Grand Champion category, and bronze in points fighting.
Gold also went to Fionn Kelly in the senior kick light division, Jennifer Molloy in veterans points fighting, Emilia Douglas and Ellen Jewell in the young cadets, and brother and sister Rayyan and Eva Ali, who both won their first competition medals.
Robert Dryja and Jamie Hawkins both won two bronze medals, one in points fighting and one in light contact.
Artur Dryja, Ilya Golovatenko, and Kamil Sobon Krulik all took bronze too, which rounded off a great day for the club.
Senior coach Robert Barrett said: “I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who competed. Nineteen medals from fifteen fighters is a fantastic result, and every one of them was earned in training over the last few months.
‘A big thank you to the parents and families who came out to support them on the day.”
Head coach Ilija Salerno added: “The Celtic Open is one of the biggest events on the Irish calendar, and to come away with eight gold medals shows how far the club has come.
‘It’s great to see so many of our young fighters, many of them competing for the first time, performing at this level.”
