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Aidan Walsh, Daina Moorehouse, Jennifer Lehane and Grainne Walsh win in Bangkok as Ireland qualify record number for Olympics

Aidan Walsh has his hand raised in victory following his box-off win in Bangkok
Aidan Walsh has his hand raised in victory following his box-off win in Bangkok

Aidan Walsh, Daina Moorehouse, Jennifer Lehane and Grainne Walsh have become the latest Irish boxers to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games.

The four fighters enjoyed victories in their respective last-eight bouts to move into the final four of the Thailand tournament and secure their berths at this summer's showpiece.

But there was heartbreak for super heavyweight Galway boxer, Martin McDonagh, who was unable to make it a clean sweep for the Irish quintet in Sunday's Olympic deciders.

McDonagh was beaten by the narrowest of margins, going down to Armenia's Davit Chaloyan on a 3:2 split decision.

But otherwise, it was an incredibly successful day for the Ireland team who now have ten boxers travelling to Paris for the Summer Games - a record number for the Ireland boxing team. In fact, Ireland have qualified a boxer in every category in the women's competition, and four out of seven in the men's.

And Aidan Walsh is now among the ten as he bounced back from defeat earlier in the tournament to come through the hard way by winning the four-fighter box-off in Bangkok.

Having won his semi-final on Saturday, Walsh secured a unanimous-decision victory over Angel Gabriel Llanos Perez of Puerto Rico to secure a berth in the 71kg category.

The Toyko bronze medallist is now a two-time Olympian and will be looking to emulate fellow Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes, who won bronze in Beijing (2008) and London (2012).

No doubt Walsh will be aiming for a higher place on the podium this time round after a freak injury forced him out of the semi-finals in Tokyo, having to forfeit his chance to fight for a silver or gold medal.

And he will now join his sister, Michaela, on that esteemed team of ten - another double Olympian - as the team look to bring back a haul from Paris this summer.

Daina Moorehouse celebrates Olympic qualification with coach Damian Kennedy

Lehane was first of five Ireland boxers in action on the final day of the Olympic qualifiers at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in the Thai capital and proved too strong for Hungary's Hanna Lakotar.

The DCU boxer took the contest on all five judges' scorecards to secure a unanimous victory and set the tone for team Ireland as they looked to add to their growing team for Paris.

"I feel on top of the world, this is the stuff dreams are made of," she said afterwards.

"I just can't believe it. We sat down and put the tactics together and I implemented them. I stuck to my simple boxing and I think that's what got me over the line today."

Jennifer Lehane after qualifying for the Paris Games

And team-mate Walsh followed Lehane's example by making it two from two for the Irish as she beat Armenia's Ani Hovesepyan, also securing the bout by unanimous decision.

"I feel like it was all meant to be," said Walsh, speaking on the IABA X account afterwards.

"I feel like I qualified back in Milan, and I came to Bangkok to collect my ticket. I believe everything happens for a reason and I'm just so delighted, over the moon.

"Having my family here - my dad, brother and sister - and the support of the nation and the community of Tullamore at home, my mam and my brother.

"I'm actually so proud of myself. It's been a long road and it's only the start.

"All the knock backs, it had to be for this reason. Each time I got a knock back it set me up and added more strings to my bow for this moment, and that's why this moment is all the sweeter.

"I actually can't believe it. I've lived this moment over in my mind a million times and to actually have it come true now... it's unbelievable."

Daina Moorehouse was first of the Irish trio in the ring for the evening session and she impressed throughout to beat Zlatislava Chukanova in her 50kg light flyweight decider.

The Wicklow boxer appeared in control throughout to progress to Paris, taking the contest on a 4:1 split decision.

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