After a run of 10 wins from 10 performances at the 2nd Olympic World Qualifier, there was heartbreak for Ireland in Bangkok today.
80kg Kelyn Cassidy was first between the rope. He contested his 3rd bout of the tournament against Spain’s Gazimagomed Schami Jalidov Gafurova – and feel foul of the dreaded 3-2 split decision. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 29:28; 28:29; 27:30; 29:28. Kelyn, who recorded earlier statement wins over Germany and India en route to the Last 16, says “Gave it my all but came up short. Paris Olympic dream over. If you had of said 3 years ago after making it on HP that I would end up where I did, I would have laughed at you. It was a great honour to where the Irish signet on my chest with pride. Also to have the backing of Waterford behind me was something I’ll never forget. I hope you all enjoyed the journey and hopefully I brought good energy buzz back home”. Ireland’s Ambassador to Thailand, Pat Bourke, who visited the team at the Indoor Arena Hua Mak this week, says “It was a privilege to be at the arena today to watch Kelyn box. He was brilliant and the bout could have gone either way. His talent, commitment and courage made me very proud to be the ambassador of the country he was representing”.
Kelyn’s club, Saviour’s Crystal, has paid tribute to him “What can we say only how proud we are of Kelyn Cassidy representing Ireland on the biggest event at world and European level and he represent Ballybeg and Waterford given all of us fantastic night and days of great boxing he is an inspiration to ever kid in all sports if you want to get to the top level you can. Today was not Kelyn day he gave his best only to come up short against a good boxer from Spain. It’s the end of an Olympic qualifying for Kelyn time for a good rest and reset and come again. We want to thank everyone for all your support and message over the last qualifying tournaments it is amazing and greatly appreciated and we could not of getting to where we are with out the support from our community of Ballybeg and the great people from Waterford from us all thank you all so much”
51kg Sean Mari showed humbling courage in his Last 16 Bout today, against Malaysia’s Ariffin Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum. Sean sustained an injury to his backhand in his opening bout win over Pakistan, but chose to continue training throughout the week, and step between the ropes today. He contested with great valour, but was withdrawn on medical grounds before the 3rd round by his corner, Damian Kennedy and James Doyle. High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle, says “Trained with one hand all week and wanted to give it a go. No lack of courage in this team and so disappointing that tonight. Sean Mari couldn’t show his true self. A great lad and, IABA and Monkstown (Dublin) BC team member”. Sean’s club, Monkstown, says “We’re absolutely devastated for Sean but known the man he is he’ll be back bigger & better. Everyone at MBC is so proud of him”
579 boxers from 133 countries are contesting the tournament. As with the 1st 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 that weight.
Day Eight
Tokyo bronze medalist 71kg Aidan Walsh is in quarter final, and qualification action, at around 9.45am on Friday morning. He contests against Jordan’s Zeyad Eashash in Bout 14 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session. There are five Paris quota places available in Aidan’s weight, which means there will be a box-off for the 5th place on Saturday.
50kg Daina Moorehouse makes her tournament debut at the Last 16 stage. She meets Armenia’s Anush Grigoryan in Bout 6 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session – that’s at 8.15am, Irish time.
66kg Grainne Walsh returns for her 3rd bout, also at Last 16. She contests against Ivory Coast’s Sedja Sanogo in Bout 3 of Ring B’s Evening Session, at around 1pm
Live-streaming of the tournament begins on Thursday, hosted here
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 1st Olympic World Qualifier. 63.5kg Dean Clancy and heavyweight, Jack Marley, qualified at the 2023 European Games.
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Co. Wicklow
54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin
71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family Golden Gloves BC, Belfast
Registration an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), taking place at the National Stadium, Dublin, on Sunday June 2nd, closes this evening at 5pm.
Resolution
That, subject to consent of the members that certain Members legal costs in the amount of €49,108.28 incurred in the arbitrations between the certain members and the Company and which arbitrations were delivered in or around May 2022 be reimbursed by the IABA.
Rationale for this General Meeting
In August 2021, 25 members were removed from the IABA by Central Council. This decision was upheld by an IABA membership committee on 12th November 2021. The certain members successfully appealed through Sport Dispute Solutions Ireland (SDSI) Arbitration to restore the members. The Arbitrator did not award them their legal costs.
At the AGM of the Company in 2023 members made representations to the AGM that they would like this issue re-examined.
The Arbitrators did not ultimately award any legal costs to the members on the basis that each party would normally bear its own costs by reference to the principles set out in the SDSI Rules.
At the meeting of the Board of Directors on 1 May 2024 it was resolved that this matter would be put to the membership for consideration and their vote on the matter.
The Board recognises and appreciates the concerns expressed by a number of Members. The board is mindful that they are the custodians of the governance of the association on behalf of the members and they believe that the question of reimbursement is one that should be left to the members to determine.
According the matter for determination of the members is: “The Members direct the Company to reimburse the legal costs of the 25 certain members previously involved in Arbitration against the Company and which sum amounts to total €49.108.28”.
Answers to be
YAY (To vote for the reimbursement of the legal costs)
or
NAY (To vote against the reimbursement of the legal costs)
Informational only
The Meeting is called in accordance with the Constitution of the Association (as amended)
The Notice shall be 14 days.
The Quorum at the meeting shall be at least 40 Affiliated member clubs represented in person.
If within half an hour from the time appointed a quorum is not present at the meeting it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place and if a quorum is not present within a half an hour from the time appointed the members present shall be a quorum.
The resolution shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll (before the declaration of the result of the show of hands) is demanded.
Where there is an equality of votes the Chair of the meeting shall be entitled to a casting vote.
Registration opened at midday on May 20th and will close at 5pm on May 30th.
Eligibility – All clubs clubs successfully affiliated for 2023/2024 season.
Attendees: Eligible clubs may nominate any two adult members to attend as delegates – one to be a voting delegate, one to be a non-voting delegate. Delegates nominated by clubs must verified members – this means they must be included in the club’s affiliation application, through Blocworx, for the 2023/2024 season as members and be over the age of 18. *Please note, delegates will be required to present photographic identification (passport, drivers’ licence, etc) on the day of the EGM.
Any questions which your club might wish to raise at the EGM the resolution and the motion or any other matter, should be submitted in advance of the EGM, either by post care of The Company Secretary to The National Stadium, 145 South Circular Road, Dublin 8, or by email to info@iaba.ieno later than 5:00pm on Monday, May 27th. This will facilitate us in providing the fullest response to any queries at the EGM.
Photo: Tara Robins MariPhoto: Joe WalshPhoto: Joe Walsh
Ireland claimed 3 wins from 3, and the 10 win in 10 bouts, at the 2nd Olympic World Qualifier in Bangkok today.
579 boxers from 133 countries are contesting the tournament. As with the 1st 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. In5 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 that weight.
92+kg Martin McDonagh was the first in action today, and make his tournament debut at the Round of 32 stage against Vietnam’s Doan Minh Hieu Ngoc. The bout was short, and decisive. Martin prompted 3 standing counts in the first round, and the contest was stopped. He is two wins away from Paris qualification. Martin is in action in his Last 16 bout against Peter Rumeno Belberov in Saturday’s Afternoon session.
66kg Grainne Walsh returned for her second bout of the tournament, 6 days after her debut victory on Friday. She contested against Korea’s Hyo Sun Hwang in a tough, physical match. The 5-0 decision went to Grainne, on a score card of 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 29:28; 29:28. Grainne will take on Cote d’Ivoire’s Sedja Sanogo in the Last 16 bout in Friday’s evening session. She is two wins from booking her ticket to Paris.
71kg Aidan Walsh boxed his 3rd bout in four days this afternoon, against 2021 World Champion, Ukraine’s Yuri Zakharieiev. This was a hotly contested bout, with 2 points deductions for each boxer, beginning in the first round for Zakharieiev. The bout was a tight one and ended in a 3-2 split in favour of the Tokyo bronze medalist. Judges scored bout 27:26; 26:27; 27:26; 27:26; 25:28. Aidan boxes his Last 8 bout, and his first chance at qualification in this tournament, on Friday against Zeyad Eashash of Jordan. As there are five quota places up for grabs in Aidan’s weight, should Friday’s decision not go in his favour, an effective box-for-bronze bout will take place on Saturday.
Coaches (l-r) Lynne McEnery, Damian Kennedy and James Doyle in Aidan Walsh’s corner during today’s bout. Photo: Tara Robins Mari.
Day Seven
Two Ireland boxers are in last 16 action on Thursday.
80kg Kelyn Cassidy is first between the ropes, at around 8.15am, Irish time. He contests his 3rd bout of the tournament against Spain’s Gazimagomed Schami Jalidov Gafurova – that’s Bout 6 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session.
51kg Sean Mari will box out of the blue corner when he contests against Malaysia’s Ariffin Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum in Bout 13 of Ring A’s Evening Session.
Live-streaming of the tournament begins on Thursday, hosted here
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 1st Olympic World Qualifier. 63.5kg Dean Clancy and heavyweight, Jack Marley, qualified at the 2023 European Games.
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Co. Wicklow
54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin
71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family Golden Gloves BC, Belfast
IABA is delighted to formally welcome Adam Hession to his role as Galway Boxing Development Officer.
Adam is a High Performance athlete, having competed for Ireland at the 2021 World Championships, European Championships in 2022 & 2024, and the European U22 Championships in 2019 and 2021, in the latter of which he won a silver medal. The Olympic Federation of Ireland Paris Scholar also contested Strandja in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Adam’s role, an IABA collaboration with Galway Sports Partnership, includes the delivery of all locally based school, community and club programmes in the Galway area. He will also facilitate training and capacity building within clubs and communities, thereby developing sustainable local leadership for boxing within communities in Galway.
Adam’s role is of strategic importance to the IABA in achieving its strategic development programmes goals and enhancing existing professional structures.
Adam joins Boxing Development Officer for Sligo, Maeve Clarke, as west of Ireland advocates of our sport. Boxing Development Officers also work in Belfast – Paddy Barnes, Brendan Irvine and Patrick Gallagher, and in Dublin – Olympic Gold medalist Michael Carruth, Noel Burke, Ed Griffin, Paul Quinn and Oisin Fagan.
