Lisa and Aoife O’Rourke are now among the very few siblings in Irish sport to contest for World medal up-grades in different categories of the same sport.
The Roscommon sisters are assured of bronze after today’s Women’s World Championship quarter finals.
Lisa had 24 hours to rest and recover after her quarter final – she boxed for a medal against Morocco’s Saida Lahmidi, a tough and canny operator who saw off her QF opponent by RSC. This bout resulted in a standing count for each boxer, with Lisa taking each round. The decision was unanimous.
And after a long wait, double Olympian 75kg Aoife O’Rourke, openned her account. She is the top seed at the weight and as such, she had a bye to the quarter finals. She justified that ranking against Aziza Zokirova of Uzbekistan, winning the first round 4-1, a score mirrord in the final result: 30:27; 28:29; 30:27
30:27; 30:27.
High Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, says “Lisa and Aoife are very special people – and unique boxers. They both have extraordinary power, courage and skill, which they have displayed today against talented opposition. I am very proud of both of them – and of the entire team. This first year of the Olympic cycle is a development year. All boxers on this team have shown the great ability to develop their skill even further. This is excellent, and hopeful for the future of Irish boxing”
239 boxers from 51 federations are contesting the tournament; in 2023, the last iteration of these championships, 324 boxers from 64 federations competed.
March 15th is a rest day at the tournament, and all finals will be boxed on Sunday, March 16th
Semi Finals
Its straight back to action – semi finals take place tomorrow.
Aoife is up first, stepping between the ropes in bout 10 of the Afternoon Session
Watch
Aoife’s Semi Final
Lisa’s Semi Final
Team Ireland
48kg Carleigh Irving, Oakleaf Boxing Club, Derry
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry Boxing Club, Wicklow
54kg Jenny Lehane, DCU Athletic Boxing Club, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC Tallaght, Dublin
70kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
81+kg Judy Bobbett, Liberty Boxing Club, Wicklow.
Team Manager, Ciara Plunkett
Head Coach Zauri Antia
Coach Damian Kennedy
Coach Eoin Pluck
Physiotherapist Rob Tuomey.