Back-door box-off sees Aidan Walsh join Daina Moorehouse, Jennifer Lehane and Martin McDonagh in quest for Paris qualification

admin admin | 06-02 00:15

Aidan Walsh, Daina Moorehouse, Jennifer Lehane and Martin McDonagh are all just one win away from qualifying for the Olympics in Paris this summer.

The Irish quartet enjoyed victories on Saturday in their respective categories to move into their Bangkok Olympic qualifier deciders.

Walsh is looking to get through the back-door route in the 71kg category, while there are four places on offer in each of the other divisions, meaning the three fighters would book their berth at the summer showpiece with victories in their last-eight outings.

Beaten in the last eight of the division, following a double docking from the referee, Walsh bounced back in style in the box-off semi-final to enjoy a unanimous decision victory against Cuba's Jorge Cuellar.

The Tokyo bronze medallist is now just one win away from becoming a two-time Olympian and will look to stamp his ticket to Paris when he goes up against Angel Gabriel Llanos from Puerto Rico in Sunday's decider.

Martin McDonagh en route to beating his Bulgarian opponent

Also boxing in the evening session, Moorehouse joined Lehane and McDonagh in the last eight following a comprehensive 5:0 victory against Aylin Jamez from Guatemala.

The Wicklow fighter will contest for that coveted Olympic place on Sunday against Bulgaria's Zlatislava Genadieva Chukanova.

Lehane was first of the Irish quartet in action at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in the Thai capital and she boxed beautifully to defeat Ukraine fighter Anastasiia Kovalchuk in the 54kg (bantamweight) last-16 encounter.

Jennifer Lehane in action during her last-16 fight

The DCU boxer will fight for her ticket to Paris on Sunday as she faces Hungary's Hanna Lakotar.

McDonagh was also in action in the afternoon session over in Bangkok and made no mistake as he demolished the challenge of Bulgaria's Peter Belberov in their super-heavyweight bout.

The Galway man won the contest on a unanimous 5:0 decision having impressed throughout the last-16 encounter.

McDonagh's Olympic bout takes place on Sunday as he goes toe-to-toe with Armenia's Davit Chaloyan for a place in Paris.

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