‘Our choice was right’ Zaur Antia delighted as Aidan Walsh qualifies for Olympic Games in Paris

Ireland head coach Zaur Antia believes Aidan Walsh’s qualification for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris vindicates the decision to select him as their choice for the 71kg class.

Walsh clinched bronze at the delayed Tokyo Games three years ago, but over exuberant celebration led to a foot injury and robbed him of the chance to upgrade that medal.

Physical and mental struggles have tested his resolve in the intervening years and despite long periods of inactivity Antia and his fellow coaches select him in the Ireland for the World qualifier in Milan in March of this year.

Although he wasn’t successful on that occasion, he grabbed his chance with both hands in Sunday, seeing off his Puerto Rican opponent in an efficient display in Sunday’s box-off in Bangkok.

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Antia said after the Holy Family’s unanimous decision over Angel Gabriel Llanos Perez: “I feel that our choice was right. We chose the right person and the right person did right things.”

Walsh will join sister Michaela, Tokyo gold medallist Kellie Harrington and Aoife O’Rourke as a two-time Olympian in Paris.

The Holy Family man has come through a gruelling qualifying process in Thailand, after being forced into a box-off after defeat to Zeyad Eashash of Jordan on Friday.

After seeing off, Jorge Cuellar of Cuba in the first box-off bout on Saturday, Walsh faced 19-year-old on Sunday for the final 71kg spot.

It was a cagey first round, with the referee forced to speak to both fighters about a lack of engagement.

A couple of good combinations from Walsh saw him take the first round but he faced a fired-up opponent in the second round, forcing the Holy Family man onto the defensive.

Both fighters hit the canvas in the second round, but it was more a tangle of feet rather than a legitimate knock down on each occasion.

It was a better round for the Puerto Rican, but three out of the five judges gave it to Walsh, who adjudged the Belfast man had landed the cleaner shots.

With a healthy lead to protect in the final round, Walsh tried to stay out of trouble, but that drew a word or two from referee who wasn’t happy with his lack of engagement and he came very close to a warning.

He was able to pick off enough shots to placate the referee as Llanos Perez was in last-chance saloon and forced onto the offensive as Walsh looked to run down the clock.

“I am so happy for him. Second-time Olympian now and everything will be fine, everything will be good – I am very positive and very happy. All the coaches, all the staff, everybody, they did a fantastic job,” added Antia.

Walsh’s win came shortly after Daina Moorehouse had booked her place in the Olympics for the first time.

The Bray woman scored a split 4:1 decision against Zlatislava Chukanova of Bulgaria in a controlled display in Sunday’s evening sesson which earned her a spot in the 50kg category in Paris.

However, Galway heavyweight Martin McDonagh was left heartbroken on Sunday evening after he was edged by Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan on 3:2 split decision.

Ireland will now take a record number of boxers to a Summer Olympics with 10 in total on the plane to Paris and hopes high of medals once again.