Offaly boxer set for World Championships
The Team Ireland team to contest the 2025 Women's World Championship, taking place in Nis, Serbia from March 6 to March 17 has been named.
Eight elite athletes will contest these world championships, hosted by Serbia, including Paris Olympians Grainne Walsh, from Offaly (66kg), Daina Moorehouse (50kg) and Jenny Lehane (54kg). Also in the team are double Olympians Michaela Walsh (57kg) and four-time continental champion Aoife O'Rourke (75kg). 2022 World 70kg champion, Aoife's sister Lisa, will also contest the tournament for the first time since winning World gold - she is joined by reigning European U23 champion, Carleigh Irving (48kg).
It’s a keynote event for 81+kg Judy Bobbett. Judy makes history when she enters the field of play, becoming one of only a handful of athletes to contest two sports for her country at international benchmark events. Judy got her first international rugby cap in November 2019, and played for Ireland as a second row in the 2020 Six Nations championships.
Preparations for this team have included post-Elites squad training throughout December, January and February, a home sparring camp with France, and an 11-day sparring camp with China in Beijing.
Head Coach Zauri Antia says: "This is a highly talented, and well-prepared team – and its particularly beneficial to their preparations to have spent time training in Beijing with the Chinese first team. There was excellent sparring at that camp. I am impressed by the focus of these boxers, and by their individual development journeys. These will be a tough World Championships, where there are no easy draws. Every member of the team knows the task ahead and we are ready. It’s an honour to contest for your country, and I would like to congratulate each boxer on their selection and also their clubs, club coaches, and their families."
The team depart for Nis on Thursday. The draw and Opening Ceremony take place on Saturday, March 8 and boxing begins on Sunday. March 15 is a rest day at the tournament, and all finals will be boxed on Sunday, March 16. The team will land at Dublin Airport from Amsterdam at 4.40pm on March 17.
The IBA is expected to stream the tournament live on its YouTube channel. Links, per ring and session, will be published in advance of a given day's boxing.
Team Ireland
48kg Carleigh Irving, Oakleaf Boxing Club, Derry
50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry Boxing Club, Wicklow
54kg Jenny Lehane, DCU Athletic Boxing Club, Dublin
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast
66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC Tallaght, Dublin
70kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon
81+kg Judy Bobbett, Liberty Boxing Club, Wicklow.
Team Manager, Ciara Plunkett
Head Coach Zauri Antia
Coach Damian Kennedy
Coach Eoin Pluck
Physiotherapist Rob Tuomey