Harrington: Irish women's boxing reaping rewards for time and effort

Kellie Harrington believes Irish women's boxing is reaping the rewards of recent support after the team won an unprecedented seven medals at the European Boxing Championships in Montenegro.

The world and Olympic champion was one of three Irish gold winners in Budva and, asked afterwards about her claims in a new book that Katie Taylor's father Pete had impeded her progress in boxing, she told RTÉ Sport: "I think that's quite irrelevant to today. Today is about us and not about that.

"Women’s boxing is driving forward. The time and the effort has gone into us over the last few years and it just proves that when you give someone time and effort and you’re patient, this is what happens. Everyone reaps the rewards.

"It [seven medals] really is incredible and it's a testament to the Irish coaches and the club coaches. All the work that goes on behind closed doors that nobody really sees. It’s a statement and it’s great to be able to pull it off out here.

"It's been a fantastic tournament and I have worked hard. We all worked really hard, the 10 boxers. The 10 of us fought exceptionally well and the ones who didn’t get medals could have, they were just pipped.

"We’re on the right track anyway."

Harrington is now turning her attention to defending her lightweight crown in Paris in 2024.

"The pathway to Paris began again after Tokyo straight away," she said. "The target is on my back.

"To be honest, all I wanted out here was to have a look around and see the girls that are going to be there [in the qualifiers] next year.

"There is possibly going to be Russia and Belarus there also, so I'll have to do a little bit more homework as well. But for now I see what’s there, unless we get someone coming out of the woodwork."

Amy Broadhurst also