Team GB boxer Qais Ashfaq has revealed his delight after opening his 2015 European Games with a comfortable victory over Georgian Giorgi Gogatishvili.
Gogatishvili made it a tricky fight for Ashfaq, but the 22-year-old's class told in the end as he booked his spot in the last-16 stage of the competition.
Immediately after the fight, bantamweight Ashfaq, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games last summer, spoke to Sports Mole.
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Congratulations Qais. Was it a case today of getting the rust off against a tricky opponent?
"Exactly. Bear in mind I haven't boxed since that last bout in Ukraine when I got cut. I haven't even sparred for more than three weeks now, but I am getting sharper and getting my mind working faster.
"It is just important to get back on it and keep going against an awkward kid that seemed to punch and duck and then bring his head in. It was a nice little warm-up for the next fight."
Gogatishvili did seem keen to make it a physical fight. Were you always confident of out-boxing him when it mattered most?
"Exactly, that was the tactics. We watched a video of him this morning and he seems to punch, punch, punch and then fall in with his head. It happened in the second round, but I managed to catch him twice. That was the tactic and that seemed to work."
You mentioned last week that you seem to get a touch nervous during the warm-up. Was that the case today?
"To be honest, when I am with the lads I am nice and relaxed, but I was on my own in there today! I was winding the coaches up, but it wasn't too bad. Once I get in there, the nerves were gone."
You have an experienced Turk – Selcuk Eker – in the next round. How are you feeling about that one?
"To be honest I know I am more than capable of beating him. Hopefully the judges are fair, I am more than confident of going in there and beating him."
Matt Law
