LAST UPDATE | 2 Jun
AIDAN WALSH HAS become the latest Irish boxer to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games after a 71kg box-off in Thailand this afternoon.
The Tokyo bronze medallist is now set to be a two-time Olympian.
Walsh defeated Puerto Rico’s Angel Gabriel Llanos Perez on a unanimous 5-0 verdict at the final qualifier event in Bangkok.
Tokyo bronze medalist, 71kg Aidan Walsh, has qualified for #Paris2024 and become a double Olympian.
— IABA (@IABABOXING) June 2, 2024
He was the unanimous decision victor over Puerto Rico's Angel Gabriel Llanos Perez pic.twitter.com/KG0muz0ku4
Earlier today, Jennifer Lehane, Gráinne Walsh and Daina Moorehouse all qualified for Paris after victories at the final qualifier event.
The three fighters booked their place at the Games by winning their respective last-eight bouts in Bangkok.
For the first time ever, Team Ireland will now send a full squad of women to the Olympics across all weights. Ireland’s boxing team in Paris will be the largest ever sent to a Games.
Tears of happiness 🥹
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) June 2, 2024
Jennifer Lehane 🇮🇪🥊is going to #Paris2024 and her reaction is as REAL as it gets 🫶
Watch every single punch live ➡️https://t.co/9unDJ8Gp4w#RoadToParis2024 | #OlympicQualifiers I @TeamIreland pic.twitter.com/CFb358LLgJ
Bantamweight Lehane was the first Irish fighter in action today and got the better of Hungary’s Hanna Lakotar, the 25-year-old southpaw winning with a unanimous decision.
Grainne Walsh is has qualified for #Paris2024, with a unanimous decision win over Armenia's Ani Hovesepayan pic.twitter.com/tMiWwK41E1
— IABA (@IABABOXING) June 2, 2024
Offaly native Walsh then beat Armenia’s Ani Hovsepyan in her welterweight bout, also via a unanimous decision.
Daina Moorehouse then capped a brilliant evening for the Irish women’s team by beating her Bulgarian opponent Zlatislava Genadieva Chukanova.
The Wicklow fighter came through some difficult moments to secure a 4-1 victory.
There was disappointment for the last Irish representative of the day: Martin McDonagh fell painstakingly short in his bid to make it a perfect from five.
The Tuam super heavyweight was beaten 3-2 on a split decision by experienced Armenian Davit Chaloyan in their 92+kg showdown.
- Additional reporting from Emma Duffy
