Boxing:The boxing squad for the final Olympic qualifier in Trabzon, Turkey, has been confirmed by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association this afternoon.
Paddy Barnes, Michael McDonagh, Ross Hickey, Adam Nolan, Joe Ward, Tommy McCarthy and Con Sheehan will line out for Ireland by the banks of the Black Sea in April, after all seven retained their titles at the National Elite Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium last Friday night.
Michael Conlan, John Joe Nevin and Darren O’Neill have already secured their spots at the Olympics, but will also take part in intensive preparations for the Turkish qualifiers, which take place between April 13th and 22nd.
An eight-day training camp begins in the Curragh on Thursday, while the squad will also head to Germany and Ukraine for further training.
In Germany, the team will compete in the Chemistry Cup Multi Nations in Halle on March 13th.
“We have a very difficult task ahead of us to get some more lads qualified. We’ll start knuckling down to that task and begin the hard work at our training camp in the Curragh this week,” said Irish head coach Billy Walsh.
“As ever in international championships and tournaments, the draw is the key. We might get a bye in a division or two or get a fight that we know we can win and it is important to get off to a good start. The draw is vital, both in Turkey and when we go to the actual Games.”
Lightweight Katie Taylor will seek to qualify for the Games at the 2012 AIBA World Women’s Championships in China in May, where she will go in search of her fourth consecutive world title.
Irish Squad for final Olympic qualifier
49Kg: (Light-flyweight) Paddy Barnes (Holy Family GG)
60Kg: (Lightweight) Michael McDonagh (St Mary's)
64Kg: (Light-welterweight) Ross Hickey (Grangecon)
69Kg: (Welterweight) Adam Nolan (Bray)
81Kg: (Light-heavyweight) Joe Ward (Moate)
91Kg: (Heavyweight) Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)
91+Kg: (Super-heavyweight) Con Sheehan (Clonmel)
Olympic quotas (in brackets) remaining at final Olympic qualifier for European boxers in Trabzon, Turkey.
49Kg: Light-flyweight (4) (Semi-finalists will qualify)
52Kg: Flyweight (3) (Michael Conlan has qualified in this weight category)
56Kg: Bantamweight (4) (John Joe Nevin has qualified in this weight category)
60Kg: Lightweight (4) (Semi-finalists will qualify)
64Kg: Light-welterweight (1) (Gold medalist will qualify)
69Kg: Welterweight (2) (Finalists will qualify)
75Kg: Middleweight (2) (Darren O'Neill has qualified in this weight category)
81Kg: Light-heavyweight (3) (Finalists will qualify, plus whoever loses to the eventual gold medalist in the semi-finals)
91Kg: Heavyweight (1) (Gold medalist will qualify)
91+Kg: Super -heavyweight (2) (Finalists will qualify)