BELFAST BOXER AIDAN Walsh is one win away from a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games, having advanced to the quarter-finals of the welterweight division.
Walsh was dominant throughout his Olympic bow in Tokyo, producing a stunning, and clinical, win over Cameroonโs Albert Mengue Ayissi.
The 24-year-old prevailed on a unanimous decision at the iconic Ryลgoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, for a welcome change of fortunes for the Irish boxing team.
His older sister, Michaela, is among those who lost their openers, suffering defeat in her last-16 featherweight clash yesterday. She was present this morning with the tricolour to roar her brother on, the pair having made history as they became the first brother and sister to box at the same Olympics.
Described as โworld-classโ and a โthoroughbred athleteโ by Team Irelandโs boxing performance director and former world champion, Bernard Dunne, in the lead-up to the Games, Aidanโs journey is one to monitor closely over the coming days.
He now faces Mervin Clair on Friday, the Mauritian having just beaten fourth seed Zeyad Eshaish.
โItโs brilliant,โ Monkstown ABC fighter Walsh, a silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, told RTร afterwards. โItโs amazing to get the journey underway.
โI just take each fight as it comes from now. It doesnโt matter if itโs an Olympic final, an All-Ireland final or an Antrim title, every fight is as important to me as them all. Itโs about listening to the coaches and the right tactics, getting in there an implementing them.
โThe coaches got it right. I just do as they tell me and thatโs it.โ
On his sister, Michaela, a vocal supporter, he added: โItโs amazing that sheโs here. I love when sheโs at my fights. Sheโs actually calmed down a wee bit, I think people have told her off in my last two fights!
โItโs great support. Obviously Iโm disappointed, as we all are for every boxer who loses out here. Weโre all one team, weโre all just here to win and itโs sad when it doesnโt go our way. Weโll come back, regroup and go again.โ
"The coaches will have a plan, so I'll just listen to them and go out and do it all again..." - Belfast boxer Aidan Walsh looks forward to his quarter-final at the Olympics following his facile victory. pic.twitter.com/AV4x17qDnf
โ RTร Sport (@RTEsport) July 27, 2021
Red thumbs from people who donโt like the way MC team has endless money thrown at it. Its impressive in a way to sit back and admire the squad, but also satisfying to see them fail despite their vast resources.
Cโmon City !
Red thumbs from a Red Iโm guessing !