Aidan Walsh wins opening Olympic World qualifier bout.

26/05/2024IABA NewsIABA

Tokyo Olympian and bronze medalist, Aidan Walsh, has opened his account at the 2nd Olympic World Qualifier with a resounding win.

He took on Boniface Mogunde Maina of Kenya and dominated, throughout – winning all three rounds, and the bout, 5-0. The session hasn’t yet concluded so judges scores aren’t available. Aidan boxes his Round of 32 bout in Tuesday’s Afternoon Session.

579 boxers from 133 countries are contesting the tournament. As with the 1^st Olympic World Qualifier in March, boxers will contest to quota; meaning, they will cease to box at a qualification bout. There will be no semi-finals or finals, and no medals bestowed. In 5 of the weights Ireland is contesting in Bangkok (50kg, 54kg, 66kg, 51kg and 92+kg), 4 Paris quota places are available. In Men’s 71kg, 5 quota places are available, and there are 3 in Men’s 80kg – which means the de-facto bronze medalists will box off for the final quota place in those weights.

Team Ireland was visited the Indoor Stadium Hua Mak today by Ireland’s Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Pat Bourne, pictured here with High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle, 66kg Grainne Walsh, 54kg Jennifer Lehane, 92+kg Martin McDonagh and the team’s Sports Psychologist, Richard Shanahan

Day Four

80kg Kelyn Cassidy is the only Ireland boxer between the ropes on Monday. He’s back for his Round of 32 bout, following 4-1 victory on Saturday over Delil Dadaev of Germany.

Kelyn takes on India’s Abhimany Loura in Monday’s Afternoon session, and should be in action at around 9.15am, Irish time.

Programme

C58D0527 Download

Watch

The tournament will not be live-streamed until May 30th, when it reaches the Quarter Finals stage. Thereafter, it will be available at Olympics.com

Team

The maximum team size any federation may qualify for an Olympic Games is 13. Six Team Ireland boxers have already qualified: reigning Olympic lightweight champ, Kellie Harrington, and now double Olympians 57kg Michaela Walsh and Aoife O’Rourke. 57kg Jude Gallagher booked his ticket to Paris at the 1^st Olympic World Qualifier. 63.5kg Dean Clancy and heavyweight, Jack Marley, qualified at the 2023 European Games.