Grainne Walsh makes strong start to Paris 2024 qualification bid

Grainne Walsh made a perfect start to her bid to reach the Paris 2024 games as she eased into the last-32 at the final Olympic qualifier tournament in Thailand on Friday.

The Offaly fighter defeated Vietnam's Mai Ngoc Hoang 5-0 on the judges' cards in their 66kg weltweight class bout.

Next up for Walsh at the World Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament 2 is a fight against North Korea's Hyo Sun Hwang who had a bye through the opening round. That is slated to take place in a Wednesday evening session Bangkok time.

Walsh is not the only Irish fighter aiming to book a quota spot for Paris with Daina Moorehouse (50kg), Jennifer Lehane (54kg), Sean Mari (51kg), Aidan Walsh (71kg), Kelyn Cassidy (80kg) and Martin McDonagh (92+kg) also due to be in action in Thailand.

Thus far, Team Ireland has six boxers qualified for Paris, with Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Kellie Harrington, Aoife O'Rourke, Michaela Walsh, Dean Clancy, Jude Gallagher and Jack Marley already having their places secured.