Gráinne Walsh on Bangkok mission in bid to qualify for Paris Olympics
Gráinne Walsh
Gráinne Walsh who missed out on Olympic qualification as a result of a much-contested decision earlier this year will be the first Irish boxer in action at the final qualification tournament which begins in Bangkok on Friday.
The Tullamore welterweight is one of 37 boxers vying for the four qualification slots available in the 66kg weight division. She meets Ngoc Hoang from Vietnam in a round of 64 contest on Friday afternoon.
Belfast’s Aidan Walsh, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Games in 2021 will be in the ring on Saturday.
There are a record 70 boxers bidding for the four slots available in the 71kg and Walsh takes on Mogunde Maina from Kenya.
Light heavyweight Kelyn Cassidy, who is bidding to follow in the footsteps of Kenneth Egan and Joe Ward and qualify for the Olympics begins his campaign against Delil Dadaev from Germany on Saturday.
There are 56 boxers in the weight division, but only the top three finishers qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Today's Sports News in 90 Seconds - 23rd May
Sean Mari (50kg) is also in action on Saturday against Muhammad Faheem from Pakistan.
The Monkstown clubman is in the same half of the draw with Roscoe Hill from the United States, who was the victim of a very dubious judging decision at the first qualification tournament in Milan.
Enniskerry’s Daina Moorehouse, who was unlucky not to qualify at both the European Games last year and again at the qualification tournament in Milan has received a bye in the first round in the 50kg weight division.
There are 34 boxers in the division with Moorehouse meeting Anush Grigoryan from Armenia on Friday week.
Jenny Lehane (54kg) will be in action on Tuesday against Angelyris Lopez from Puerto Rico, while super heavyweight Martin McDonagh begins his campaign against Minh Ngoc from Vietnam on Wednesday. There are 34 boxers in his category.
