Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KELLIE ZEROES IN ON HER ULTIMATE GOAL
IRISH lightweight Kellie Harrington will get two shots at Olympic qualification – if she wins her first fight at the European qualifiers for Tokyo 2020.
The Dubliner received a bye into the last 16 and will meet either Poland’s Aneta Rygielska or Romania’s Paula Cosmo on St Patrick’s Day in London for a place in the last eight.
If Harrington emerges unscathed and then wins her quarter-final, she’ll qualify for the 32nd Olympiad.
However, if she loses in the last eight, she’ll get another shot at qualification in a box off with the other beaten quarter-finalists. Harrington – the No,2 seed at the tournament – can’t wait to get in the ring on Tuesday.
“Women’s boxing has gone from strength to strength since the first introduction in the London 2012 Olympic Games. I am just very grateful to have this chance to go and try to get a place in the 2020 Olympic Games for my country,” she said.
Belgium’s Delfine Persoon, who lost controversially to Katie Taylor in a unification bout last year, is also in the lightweight mix in London and meets Pita Nikolety of Greece this afternoon.
No Irish boxers will be in action today but Dublin trio George Bates, Emmett Brennan and Kiril Afanasev box tomorrow.
Bernard Dunne, IABA highperformance director, believes it will be tough but doable for each of the fighters.
And Antrim’s Kurt Walker (inset) and Michaela Walsh should both be confident as they are seeded No2 in the male and female featherweight limits.
“The team are as prepared as they are going to be at this stage. They’ve done the hard work. It’s a tough competition, and there are tough fights ahead, but our team are more than capable,” said Dunne.
The London tournament is going ahead despite numerous sports events being cancelled throughout the UK because of the coronavirus.
The local organising committee have taken their lead from Public Health England, stating: “Our approach to the coronavirus situation is guided by the advice provided by Public Health England, and the latest information indicates that the competition is able to get underway this weekend.”
Boxing begins at noon today with a second session at 6pm.