Team Ireland opt out of French hosted tournament – return from camp today
Ireland finished their two-week training camp in Assisi, Italy today and are scheduled to arrive home tonight.
The Irish squad trained and sparred with Italy and India in Assisi.
The team were considering entering the Alexis Vastine Memorial which begins in Nantes, France today but opted not to take part in the tournament.
Bernard Dunne, IABA High-Performance Director, said that the squad got essential work done in Assisi.
“We got what we wanted out of the camp. Our guys got the work they needed done and we are very happy with the performances at the camp,” he said.
“It was good essential work and our guys got what they needed from it. The athletes have been fantastic.
“Thankfully, all of our team got some good work, shook off the cobwebs and are feeling fit and healthy. It was essential preparation for our team and everyone benefited from it.”
Team Ireland are building toward the European and World qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics.
The qualifiers are expected to go ahead next February/March and May/June at venues to be confirmed.
The European qualifiers for Tokyo were cancelled after three days of competition last March in London because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nine Irish athletes will still be in play when the Europeans qualifiers resume.
Irish captain Brendan Irvine qualified for Tokyo in London and is through to the quarter-finals at the qualifiers where he’ll meet Spain Gabriel Escobar for at least bronze in the flyweight class.
The International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force are expected to confirm the venues for the European and World qualifiers before the end of the year.
Courtesy of the IABA press officer Bernard O’Neill
IRISH SQUAD (Assisi training camp)
51kg Carly McNaul (Ormeau Road)
51kg Niamh Early (Ryston)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown)
57kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s)
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Spartacus)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s BC/Garda BC)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic)
81kg Emmet Brennan (Dublin Docklands)
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)
91kg+ Antoine O’GrĂofa (Celtic Eagles)
91kg+ Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles)
High-Performance Director Bernard Dunne
Coaches: Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dimitruk, Eoin Pluck
