Team Ireland’s Jenny Lehane’s Paris 2024 journey has ended following a tough battle against China’s Yuan Chang, in which she gave her all.
The Ashbourne native has only been boxing at international level for a few seasons after switching from elite Taekwondo five years ago, on joining DCU Boxing Club. She took a two year career break from her role as a primary school teacher in July, 2022, to give her all to boxing.
“I thought the first round was close and that I came more into myself in the second. I was a bit more relaxed and the shots flowed a little bit more but overall I think she got the better of me today,” the 25-year-old said. Chang had incredibly fast fists and won every round unanimously on the judge’s scorecards for a 5:0 victory but the Irish fighter, who could hear the travelling fans chanting her name, gave everything right to the last bell. “It was just an incredible experience overall to come out to such a huge crowd. I’ve never fought before as many people before in my life and in such an amazing venue. To hear so much support coming from the crowd was just incredible and I’ll be forever grateful for that experience alone.
“All my crazy family were there. They all came over to support me here and I know there was loads of support from my home town of Ashbourne and the school I worked in (St Mary’s), where I know the kids were looking up to me, so I hope I have been able to inspire a few more to follow their dream.” Lehane put her primary school teaching career on hold to train fulltime with Ireland’s elite boxers and indicated that she would like to continue that in future, with some occasional substitute teaching. “I’ve come on so much, even in the last year I’ve improved so much, so I’m just excited to see what Jenny Lehane will be like in a few years’ time.”
Day Five – July 31st
Defending Olympic lightweight champion, Kellie Harrington, boxes for a Paris 2024 medal on Wednesday.
She contests for a podium place against 24 year old Colombian, Angie Paola Valdes Pana – she’s a 2023 World and Panamerican silver medalist, and won through to the quarter finals by virtue of a 3-2 split win over Kosovo’s Donjeta Sadiku. That contest is at 4.54pm, Irish time
Four time continental champion 75kg Aoife O’Rourke, is seeded 2nd. She begins her second Olympic campaign at last 16 stage against Poland’s Elisabeta Wojcik – they’ve met four times before, and Aoife has been the victor on all occasions. Aoife boxes in the Evening Session and is expected in the ring at 9.52pm, Irish time.
Jude Gallagher has a bye, and meets Tokyo flyweight silver medalist, Carlo Paalam, of the Philippines. He’s contested at flyweight, bantamweight and now feather. Palaam has an Asian Games bronze medal at fly, and and Asian Championship gold at bantam. They’re in the ring in the Afternoon Session, at 3.30pm, Irish time.
All results and schedules are available here.
Tournament Schedule
Boxing from July 27th to August 3rd takes place at the North Paris Arena. Boxing from August 4th to 10th takes place at Roland Garros. August 5th is a rest day at the tournament.
Morning sessions begin at 10am, Irish time.
Afternoon sessions begin at 2.30pm, Irish time
Evening sessions begin at 7pm, Irish time.
July 27th Round of 32: W54kg, W60kg, M63.5kg & M80kg.
July 28th Round of 32: W50kg, W66kg, M57kg, M71kg, M92kg % M92+kg.
July 29th Last 16 in M63.5, 92 & 92+kg, and W60kg
July 30th Last 16 in M51 & M80kg, and W54 & W57kg
July 31st Last 16 M57 & 71kg, and W75kg, plus QF of W60kg
August 1st QF of M63.5 & 92kg, last 16 W50 & 66kg, QF of W54kg
August 2nd QF of M51, 80 & +92kg, and last 16 W57kg
August 3rd QF of M57 & 71kg, and W50 & 66kg, SF of W60kg
August 4th SF of M51, 63.5, 80 & 92kg,QF W57 & 75kg, SF of W54kg
August 5th rest day
August 6th SF of M71kg, SF W50 & 66kg, and W60kg final
August 7th SF M92+kg & W57kg, Finals of M63.5 & 80kg
August 8th SF M57kg & W75kg, Finals M51kg and W54kg
August 9th Finals of M71 & 92kg, Finals of W50 & 66kg
August 10th Finals of M57 & 92+kg, Finals of W57 & 75kg
Draws
All draws are available here and here
Watch
RTE will have significant coverage of the Games on RTE 2, RTE Player, online, on Radio and through the RTE app. Full details are available here
The full Games streaming service for all sports is here:
https://www.discoveryplus.com/ie/olympics/sport/boxing
Team Ireland Boxing
Athletes:
Kellie Harrington (Dublin) Women’s 60kg
Aidan Walsh (Belfast) Men’s 71kg
Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) Women’s -75kg
Daina Moorehouse (Bray) Women’s -50kg
Dean Clancy (Sligo) Men’s 63.5kg
Grainne Walsh (Tullamore) Women’s -66kg
Jude Gallagher (Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone) Men’s -57kg
Jennifer Lehane (Ashbourne, Co. Meath) Women’s -54kg
Jack Marley (Sallynoggin, Dublin) Men’s -92kg
Michaela Walsh (Belfast) Women’s -57kg
Staff:
Tricia Heberle – Performance Director & Team Leader
Zauri Antia – Head Coach
Damian Kennedy – Coach
Lynne McEnery – Coach
James Doyle – Coach
Jim Clover – Doctor
Lorcan McGee – Physio
Paula Fitzpatrick – Physiologist