Boxing: Belfast light-flyweight Paddy Barnes became the first Irish boxer to qualify for next year's Beijing Olympics after another outstanding performance at the World Amateur Championships in Chicago.
The 20-year-old from the city's Holy Family club outclassed Japan's Kenji Ohkubo 24-6 to seal his place in the competition's quarter-finals and with it a guaranteed Olympic berth.
Barnes' performances have impressed Ireland's high performance director Gary Keegan, who admitted worries over his inexperience almost cost him a selection place.
Keegan said: "We have found it hard to get Paddy bouts this year because there are not too many light-flyweights around and we had to think hard about picking him for the squad.
"But the fact that he hasn't experienced the limelight before is working for him. He thinks it's all normal and I don't really want him to discover that it's such a big deal!"
Two more Irish fighters were due to fight for Olympic qualification later today in Chicago, with light-heavyweight Kenneth Egan and lightweight Eric Donovan possessing realistic chances.