(FEB 13) Ireland has named a
13 strong squad for the first of the 2020 Olympic boxing
qualifiers set for the Copper Box Arena in London March 13/25th
but few surprises in that talented squad.
Dublin’s former (2018) World
Elite lightweight champion Kellie Harrington is included as
indeed is Roscommon's current European Elite middleweight
champion Aoife O’Rourke.
Harrington claimed silver at the Strandja multi-nations in
Sofia, Bulgaria last month in her first outing since picking up
a hand injury at the European Games in Minsk last June. Irish
fans will be delighted to see her back after a lengthy absence
from the International scene.
Rio 2016 Olympian Brendan Irvine lines out at flyweight, whilst
Antrim siblings Aidan and Michaela Walsh will wear the Irish
welter and feather vests in the English capital.
There was intense competition for places on the Irish squad for
London, according to Bernard Dunne, IABA High-Performance
Director.
“We have some really good athletes pushing each other for
places, so it has been a challenge to select our squad, but we
have picked the best team to compete at the first qualifier in
London, he said.
“We would be looking for some good performances from our team.
We have two opportunities to qualify, London (European
qualifier) and Paris (World qualifier) so we will review the
squad post-London.
“Preparations have gone well so far, and we head to Italy on
Monday for a sparring camp which will then lead us into the
qualifier.
“They’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point, so if they
perform to the best of their ability in London, then that is all
we can ask of them.”
Team Ireland leave for their final training camp in Assisi,
Italy on Monday and return home at the end of the month before
heading to London where 77 Olympic places – 50 for men and 27
for women – will be up for grabs in the eight weight classes for
males and five for females.
The African, Asia/Oceania, Americas and European qualifiers will
be decided next month and early April to complete the
Continental qualification process.
For boxers from all countries, the final World qualifier for
Tokyo 2020 is set for Paris in May.
286 boxers – 186 men and 100 women – will compete at the Tokyo
2020 Olympics.
European Qualifiers for Tokyo 2020:
Copperbox Arena London March 13/24
Irish squad:
Female:
51kg – Flyweight- Ceire Smith (Cavan BC)
57kg – Featherweight – Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)
60kg – Lightweight – Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s, Dublin)
69kg – Welterweight – Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s, Cork)
75kg – Middleweight – Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea, Roscommon)
Male:
52kg – Flyweight – Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s, Antrim)
57kg – Featherweight – Kurt Walker (Canal, Antrim)
63kg – Light-welterweight – George Bates (St Mary’s, Dublin)
69kg – Welterweight – Aidan Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)
75kg – Middleweight – Michael Nevin (Portlaoise, Laois)
81kg – Light-heavyweight – Emmett Brennan (Dublin Docklands)
91kg – Heavyweight – Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield, Dublin)
91+kg – Super-heavyweight – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel, Tipperary)
