Boxing

Amy Broadhurst wins opening Olympic qualifier for Team GB

Ireland’s Kelyn Cassidy and Aidan Walsh also progress to the next round in Thailand in their bid to qualify for Paris

Amy Broadhurst has won her debut fight for Team GB. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Amy Broadhurst has won her debut fight for Team GB. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Mon May 27 2024 - 14:38

Irish-born Amy Broadhurst has won her debut fight representing Great Britain after defeating Spain’s Sheila Martinez in her opening bout of the Olympic qualifier in Thailand.

The Dundalk native, a previous world and European champion for Ireland, was awarded a unanimous 5-0 decision in the last-32 bout in the 60kg class. She will now fight either Canada’s Terris Smith or Bulgaria’s Aslahan Mehmedova in the next round.

To qualify for the Paris Olympics, Broadhurst must either reach the final of the event in Thailand or win a third-placed playoff.

Broadhurst had previously decided to switch allegiances to Team GB after Ireland opted against selecting her for this qualifier; she is eligible for Great Britain through her English-born father.

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Broadhurst had previously fought 66kg but Gráinne Walsh was picked as the Irish representative for these qualifiers, while Tokyo gold medal winner Kellie Harrington fights for Ireland in the 60kg category. Walsh previously begun her qualification campaign with a win over Vietnam’s Ngoc Mai Hoang on Friday.

[ Amy Broadhurst has done a brave thing switching to Great Britain – but things could get messy at Paris ]

Elsewhere, Ireland’s Kelyn Cassidy is also safely through to the next round in Thailand after stopping India’s AS Stivens in the third round of their last-32 contest. Fighting at 80kg, there are three Olympic qualification slots available in Cassidy’s weight class.

Belfast man Aidan Walsh, who won a bronze medal in Tokyo in the light-middleweight division, beat Kenya’s Boniface Mogunde 5-0 to move into the last 32. Should Walsh qualify for the Olympics, he will join his sister Michaela in the Irish team for Paris. There are five spots up for grabs in for light-middleweights in Thailand.