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Aidan Walsh and Jennifer Lehane edge closer to Paris Games with Bangkok wins

Jennifer Lehane made a winning start in Bangkok
Jennifer Lehane made a winning start in Bangkok

Aidan Walsh and Jennifer Lehane took one step closer to this summer's Paris Games with victories at the Olympics qualifiers in Bangkok.

Belfast's Walsh defeated Youcef Islam Yaiche to progress to the last 16, thanks to a 4:1 split decision against the Algerian.

The Tokyo Games bronze medallist needs a quarter-final victory in the 71kg division to secure a ticket to the Paris Games this summer, or if he loses in the last eight, Walsh would need to win the box-off between the four defeated fighters for the remaining place.

Aidan Walsh is two wins away from a place at the Olympics

The Belfast fighter, sister of fellow Olympian Michaela, who has already qualified for Paris, will return to the ring on Wednesday where he will could face 2021 world champion Yurii Zakharieiev from Ukraine for a place in the quarter-finals.

Lehane recorded a similar 4:1 split decision victory over Puerto Rico's Angelyris Lopez to go through to the last 16 of the final Olympic qualifier.

The Meath woman needs two more wins to book her berth to Paris and will be next out on Saturday at the Indoor Stadium Huamark venue in the Thai capital.

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