Gold for Olympic bound O'Rourke in Bulgaria

Irish middleweight Aoife O'Rourke has won the gold medal at the prestigious Strandja Memorial tournament in Bulgaria.

The Roscommon boxer extended an unbeaten run that stretches back to 2022 when she overcame Baison Manikon of Thailand in the gold medal bout, winning on a split 3-2 decsion.

O'Rourke is poised to become a two-time Olympian at the Paris Games this summer and victory over Manikon is another boost in her preparations for the Olympics.

Victory was all the sweeter for O'Rourke after she defeated China's Li Qian in the semi-final, gaining a measure of revenge for the last 16 defeat she suffered to Qian at the 2020 Olympics.

O'Rourke's gold was the second of the tournament for Irish fighters after Olympic bound heavyweight Jack Marley claimed a bronze medal.