Sport

Belfast boxer Carly McNaul gets Ireland call for European Olympic Qualifier in London

Carly McNaul with son Jaden after winning the flyweight title at the 2019 Irish Elite Championships. The Belfast woman has been called into the Ireland team for next month's European Olympic qualifier in London. Picture by Mark Marlow
Carly McNaul with son Jaden after winning the flyweight title at the 2019 Irish Elite Championships. The Belfast woman has been called into the Ireland team for next month's European Olympic qualifier in London. Picture by Mark Marlow Carly McNaul with son Jaden after winning the flyweight title at the 2019 Irish Elite Championships. The Belfast woman has been called into the Ireland team for next month's European Olympic qualifier in London. Picture by Mark Marlow

COMMONWEALTH Games silver medallist Carly McNaul thought her shot at Olympic qualification might have gone – but the east Belfast woman is right back in the mix after being called into the Ireland squad for next month’s Tokyo 2020 qualifier in London.

Cavan’s Ceire Smith was initially named as the flyweight pick in the 13-strong team, who go in search of Olympic spots at the Copper Box Arena from March 13-23.

However, a thumb injury picked up in training has ruled Smith out and opened the door for McNaul to have a tilt at Tokyo.

The 30-year-old pocket rocket, who boxes out of the Ormeau Road club, travelled to Assisi over the weekend to join the rest of her team-mates at a pre-qualifier training camp alongside teams from host nation Italy, Finland, France, India, New Zealand, Romania and Russia.

It has been a whirlwind few days for ‘Wrecking Ball’ McNaul, who had been preparing to face Immaculata’s Caitlin Fryers in the 51kg final of the Ulster Elite Championships at the Ulster Hall tonight. Fryers will receive the title on a walkover.

McNaul joins fellow Ulster fighters Kurt Walker, Aidan Walsh, Michaela Walsh and team captain Brendan Irvine as they prepare under the watchful eye of coaches Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dimitruk and Irish Athletic Boxing Association high performance director Bernard Dunne.

“We have an intense two-week training camp in Italy with several other countries,” said Dunne.

“It’s exciting; this is the stage that the guys all want to be involved in.”

To qualify for Tokyo, McNaul must reach the quarter-final stage of the flyweight competition in London. If she doesn’t, there will be a second opportunity in May - depending, of course, on Smith’s recovery from injury.

The final World qualification tournament takes place in Paris from May 13-24, while the Olympic Games running from July 24-August 9.