Heartache for Ireland’s Sean Mari as hand injury ends Olympic dream

The Monkstown boxer was forced to withdraw from his second bout against Malaysia’s Ariffin Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum at the start of the third round as a result of a hand injury he sustained in his opening fight at the Olympic qualification tournament in Bangkok.

Earlier, Waterford’s Kelyn Cassidy was beaten on a split 3-2 decision by Spain’s Gazimagomed Jalidov in the light heavyweight division.

On Friday, three Irish boxers are in action with Belfast’s Aidan Walsh one win away from becoming a two-time Olympian.

He meets Jordan’s Zeyad Eashash, who competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games where Walsh won a bronze medal in the 71kg division.

Even if Walsh loses, he will get a second chance via a box off between the four beaten quarter-finalists with the winner picking up the fifth place available.

After a long wait, Enniskerry’s flyweight Daina Moorehouse makes her debut in Bangkok. She meets Armenia’s Anush Grigoryan in a last 16 contest.

Gráinne Walsh is also back in action in her third fight against Ivory Coast’s Sedja Sanogo, with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals of the welterweight division.