Kellie Harrington has secured her spot for Paris Olympics 2024 after defeating Sweden’s Agnes Alexiusson 4-1 in the lightweight semi-finals at the European Games in Poland today.
Amy Broadhurst and Jennifer Lehane unfortunately came up short after suffering defeats in their respective quarter-final bouts at the European Games.
#TeamIreland's 66kg Amy Broadhurst's #EG2023 campaign ends following a testy bout V🇬🇧 – she'll leave Poland with two fantastic wins under her belt. pic.twitter.com/Eup9epEPdf
— IABA (@IABABOXING) June 28, 2023
Lightweight champion Kellie Harrington has claimed Ireland’s first boxing medal of the European Games and is guaranteed a place in next year’s Olympic Games, where she will defend the gold medal she won in Tokyo.
“I’m overjoyed. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions,” said Harrington. “It’s not over, I’m just going for the next fight round by round and wherever that takes me. The main thing is I’m back enjoying it again, and I’ve booked my seat on the plane to Paris. That was the goal coming out here.”
🥊 | BOXING
Our Olympic Champion is going to #Paris2024
Kellie Harrington 🇮🇪
Bronze secured at the European Games, now to change the colour.#TeamIreland #EG2023 #Boxing pic.twitter.com/CRWtYnW4HA
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) June 28, 2023
A disappointed Amy Broadhurst lost her 66kg bout 3-2 against Britain’s Rosie Eccles. Dundalk’s Broadhurst started out strong but was overcome by Eccles in the final two rounds.
Jennifer Lehane also struggled against a much taller opponent in the 54kg division quarterfinal with the judges awarding the bout it 5-0 to her opponent, Stanimira Petrova of Bulgaria.
A courageous performance by #TeamIreland 54kg Jennifer Lehane in her #EG2023 quarter final – not to be on this occasion, but Jenny's had a great tournament and two well-boxed wins. pic.twitter.com/6oLSIg9RYg
— IABA (@IABABOXING) June 28, 2023
“She was a tough opponent, I know she has a lot of experience, she’s been around the block a few times. It was valuable experience for me here; I got three good fights in, and I’ll build on that for the next qualifiers, this isn’t the end of the journey for me; and I live and I learn and I’ll go again,” Lehane said after the fight.
Like Broadhurst, Lehane will now have to wait for the 2024 world qualifiers for another shot at Olympic qualification.