Lehane and McDonagh one win away from Paris Games

Jennifer Lehane and Martin McDonagh are both one win away from qualifying for the Olympics in Paris this summer.

Both fighters enjoyed victories on Saturday in their respective categories to move into the last eight of the Bangkok Olympic qualifier.

With four places on offer in both divisions, the Irish duo would book their berth at the summer showpiece with victories in their next outings.

Lehane was first of the Irish quartet in action at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in the Thai capital and she boxed beautifully to defeat Ukraine fighter Anastasiia Kovalchuk in the 54kg (bantamweight) last-16 encounter.

The DCU boxer will fight for her ticket to Paris on Sunday as she faces Hungary’s Hanna Lakotar.

McDonagh was also in action in the afternoon session over in Bangkok and made no mistake as he demolished the challenge of Bulgaria’s Peter Belberov in their super-heavyweight bout.

The Galway man won the contest on a unanimous 5:0 decision having impressed throughout the last-16 encounter.

McDonagh’s Olympic bout takes place on Sunday as he goes toe-to-toe with Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan for a place in Paris.

Aidan Walsh is in action in his 71kg box-off later on Saturday, while Daina Moorehouse is also in action in her 50kg last-16 bout.