Kelyn Cassidy and Sean Mari's Paris 2024 hopes ended at the final Olympic boxing qualifying tournament in Bangkok today.
Waterford fighter Cassidy suffered a split-decision defeat to Spain's Gazi Jalidov in the last-16 of the men's 80kg (light heavyweight) category.
Cassidy lost 3-2 on the judges' cards against an opponent who reached the quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020.
Dubliner Mari came into his 50kg last-32 bout against Malaysia's Ariffin Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum carrying a hand injury from his previous win and was forced to retire after the second round.
"Trained with one hand all week and wanted to give it a go," said Team Ireland high-performance director Patricia Heberle on social media.
"No lack of courage in this team and so disappointing that tonight Sean Mari couldn't show his true self."
Valiant 51kg Sean Mari was forced to withdraw going in to the 3rd round of his 2nd Olympic Qualification bout V 🇲🇾, owing to a hand injury sustained in his opening bout.
— IABA (@IABABOXING) May 30, 2024
Sean showed great courage in getting in to the ring to contest this bout, and can rightfully be proud. pic.twitter.com/PnVaNhBXf0
Five Irish fighters remain in contention to join the six already qualified for Paris and three of them are in action on Friday.
Tokyo bronze medallist Aidan Walsh (71kg) is one win away from securing his place but even defeat to Jordan's Zeyad Eashash would leave him in a four-way play-off.
Gráinne Walsh's last-16 fight against Ivory Coast’s Sedja Sanogo is her third welterweight contest in a week while light-flyweight (50kg) Daina Moorehouse is making her debut in Thailand - against Armenia's Anush Grigoryan - at the same stage.
Four quota places are on offer at both weights, meaning the pair are two wins away from qualification.
Team Ireland has six boxers currently qualified for Paris: Michaela Walsh (57kg), Kellie Harrington (60kg champion), Aoife O'Rourke (75kg); Jude Gallagher (57kg), Dean Clancy (63.5kg) and Jack Marley (92kg).
