- nigel ringland
- BBC Sports NI
image source, ©INPHO/Laszlo Getzo
Jude Gallagher (right) hopes to qualify for the Paris Olympics
The first of two World Olympic qualifying tournaments begins on Sunday in Busto Arsizio, Italy, with eight Irish boxers competing.
The team includes Tokyo bronze medalist Aidan Walsh and 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Jude Gallagher from County Tyrone.
They need to reach the semi-finals to qualify for this summer's 2024 Paris Games.
Ireland already has five boxers who have qualified for the Olympics.
Tokyo gold medalists Kelly Harrington, Michaela Walsh, Aoife O'Rourke, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley all qualified for the European Games in Poland last June.
Five of the teams failed in their first attempt at qualifying.
Gallagher, Sean Mari, Kellyn Cassidy, Dinah Moorhouse and Jennifer Lehane all won national titles in December and are being given second chances.
However, there is some debate over Mr. Walsh's selection. It has been more than a year since he lost to Dean Walsh in the semi-finals of the Irish Championships.
The Wexford fighter also missed out on securing a place in the European Games, but won his fifth Irish Elite title in a tournament that Aidan Walsh did not feature in.
The Belfast boxer was given the opportunity and opportunity to compete in his second Olympics and join his sister Michaela on the Irish team.
image source, ©INPHO/Presseye/Philip Magowan
Aidan Walsh hopes to join Ireland's Olympic squad with sister Michaela
In a similar situation, Grainne Walsh missed out on the European competition last year despite defeating former world champion Amy Broadhurst to win the national title.
Broadhurst was injured in the loss in Poland, along with another world champion Lisa O'Rourke, and did not compete in this year's Elite Championship, where Walsh retained the title.
The Tullamore boxer has been given the chance to achieve her Olympic dream and if she succeeds it will end Broadhurst and O'Rourke's hopes.
Approximately 700 boxers have entered the tournament, and as a result, the Paris Boxing Task Force, which is organizing the competition on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, has decided to allow boxers to box within the quota. .
This means boxers will stop competing at the quarter-final stage, when the semi-finalists will be determined and the Olympic qualifiers will be decided.
Ireland's High Performance Coach, Zauri Antia, explained: “It is a great honor and a great achievement to box at this level for Ireland with the aim of becoming an Olympian.''
“This team's preparation has been great and I believe in all eight boxers and their abilities.
“Our boxers have a long way to go – four fights – to get a ticket to Paris, but they are very dedicated. I am happy to be here with them and to work hard. I am proud to be able to do this.”
There is no doubt that the Irish squad will be well prepared for next week's challenges.
“It will be a tough match, but all the boxers in this team are ready. We put in the effort 'in February,'' coach Damian Kennedy said.
“All of these athletes have great drive and focus. They know what's going to happen and what's at stake. They're all high performers and when they step into the ring I can’t wait.”
The second World Qualifier, the last chance, will be held in Thailand at the end of May.
50kg Dinah Moorhouse, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary's BC, Tallaght, Dublin
51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin
57kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles ABC, Tyrone
71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family GG BC, Belfast
80kg Kerin Cassidy, Sabers Crystal, Waterford
Martin McDonagh over 92kg, Crumlin BC, Dublin
