Three Irish boxers are 9 minutes of boxing, apiece, away from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
66kg Grainne Walsh is the first of Ireland’s boxers between the ropes today; she contests Poland’s Aneta Rygielska. The pair have met three times previously, all of which were in 2023 – at Strandja, Feliks Stamm and Leszek Drogosz. Grainne was the victor on two of those occasions. They will meet for a 4th time in Bout 10 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session, at 3pm Irish Time.
80kg Kelyn Cassidy is up next; he meets 2023 IBA World Champion, Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay. Both Kelyn and his opponent suffered defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Khyzhniak in 2023 – the Waterford man during the Paris Qualification Bout at the European Games, and Oralbay at last year’s edition of Bocskai Istvan Memorial Tournament. They go toe-to-toe in Bout 11 of Ring A’s Evening Session, at around 8.15pm, Irish Time.
The final Irish boxer to bid for Paris at the 1st Olympic World Qualifier will be Tyrone’s Jude Gallagher, competing at 57kg. He will contest against Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov in Bout 6 of Ring B’s Evening Session, at 7.15pm, Irish time.
602 boxers from 113 countries have registered to contest the tournament – making it the third largest boxing tournament in history.
49 quota places are available. In all weights Ireland is contesting at the tournament, a last four finish will qualify for Paris. The Paris Boxing Taskforce, which is running the competition on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, has advised that boxers will box to quota – which means boxers will cease competing at the Quarter Finals stage where last 4 qualify.
Programme, March 11th
Session Times
The afternoon session begins at 1pm, Irish time
The evening session begins at 6pm Irish time.
Tournament Schedule
Watch live
Olympics.com is now broadcasting all rings and sessions on its website, here.
Team
1st Olympic World Qualifier Team:
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
54kg Jennifer Lehane, DCU Boxing Club, Dublin
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin
51kg Sean Mari, Monkstown BC, Dublin
57kg Jude Gallagher, Two Castles ABC, Tyrone
71kg Aidan Walsh, Holy Family GG BC, Belfast
80kg Kelyn Cassidy, Saviours Crystal, Waterford
92+kg Martin McDonagh, Crumlin BC, Dublin