Seven-strong Irish team named for final Olympic boxing qualifier
Paris Italy Ireland Tournament Busto Mcshane/sportsfile Work Cassidy During Photo In The 2024 E Qualification Arsizio, Olympic Kelyn At Of Boxing By Arena Ben
A seven-strong Irish team for this month's Olympic boxing qualifier in Thailand has been named. It will be final opportunity for the Olympic hopefuls to qualify for Paris.
All seven boxers took part, but fell short, at the first Olympic qualifier of the year, which was held in Italy in March.
At that qualifier earlier in the year, Jude Gallagher, in the 57kg category, became the sixth Irish boxer to qualify for the Paris Olympics. He joined Olympic lightweight champion, Kellie Harrington, Michaela Walsh (57kg), Aoife O’Rourke (75kg), 63.5kg Dean Clancy, and heavyweight Jack Marley.
IABA high performance director Tricia Heberle said a target of qualifying eight boxers for the Olympics has been set.
“The competition in Bangkok will be tough," said head coach Zaur Antia.
"Boxers are chasing their last chance to become Paris Olympians, and will battle to the final bell. It is a great honour, and a remarkable achievement, to box for Ireland at this level, in the hope of becoming an Olympian."
In four of the weights Ireland is contesting in Bangkok, four Paris quota places are available. In the men’s 71kg, five quota places are available, and there are three in the men’s 80kg.
Preparations the qualifier have included a multi-nation training camp in Italy, the first Olympic World Qualifier in Milan, a dual- nations training camp and international with Ukraine in Castlerea. On Wednesday, the Irish team departs for a multi-nations preparatory camp in Hua Hin, Thailand. The competition gets underway on May 24th.
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Co. Wicklow; 54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin; 66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin; 51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin; 71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family Golden Gloves BC, Belfast; 80kg Kelyn Cassidy, Saviour’s Crystal, Waterford; 92+kg Martin McDonagh, Galway Boxing Club.