IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Katie Taylor has qualified for the London 2012 Olympics.

Taylor was due to meet Mihaela Lacatus in the quarter-finals of the 7th AIBA World Women’s Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Qinhuangdao, China this morning (Irish time).

But the Bray woman was granted a walkover after the Romanian withdrew injured.

http://88.85.4.2/pdf/000085/C73B230.PDF

It is understood that Lacatus, a gold medal winner at the 2005 AIBA World Women’s Championships, suffered a neck injury.

In further good news for Taylor, Mavzuna Chorieva of Tajikistan beat Estelle Mossely of  France this morning, a result that qualified Taylor for London 2012 as there are three Olympic places available for European boxers in Taylor’s lightweight category.

The Chorieva versus Mossely result ensured that only three Europeans will be in Friday’s semi-finals.

http://88.85.4.2/pdf/000085/C75WW60.PDF

Taylor, Russia’s       Sofya Ochigava and England’s Natasha Jonas, who both won this morning, are       also through to the last-four and all three will compete at the London       2012 Olympics.

Taylor, who is       aiming for her fourth AIBA World title in-a-row in China, will meet       Chorieva, who has also qualified for London 2012, in Friday’s lightweight       semi-final.

Ochigava and Jonas       clash in the corresponding semi-final.

All four       semi-finalists are guaranteed at least bronze.

Following today’s       results, Taylor, her Bray BC team-mate Adam Nolan, Paddy Barnes, Michael       Conlan, John Joe Nevin and Darren O’Neill will represent Ireland in the       boxing event at the XXX Olympiad.

Women’s boxing       will make its historic debut at the 2012 Games in three weight categories       – flyweight, lightweight and middleweight.

7th AIBA World       Women’s Championships Qinhuangdao, China

(Afternoon       sessions begin at 2pm local time, 7am Irish time)

May       12th

51kg (Last       64)Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Veglina Svetlana (Tajikistan)       RSC3

75kg (Last 64)       Sinead Kavanagh (Ireland) lost to Francelis Paez Carmona (Venezuela)       19-23

May 13th

51kg (Last 32)       Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Sarah-Joy Iris Rae (Jamaica) 12-4

May       14th

60Kg (Last 32)       Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Rim Jouini (Tunisia) 19-6

May 15th

51kg (Last 16)       Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Anna Karolina Michalczuk (Poland) RSC3

60kg (Last 16)       Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Saida Khassenova (Kazakhstan)  RSC4

May 16th

60kg       (Quarter-finals) Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Mihaela Lacatus (Romania)       W/O

May 18th

(Semi-finals –       Afternoon)

60kg Katie Taylor       (Ireland) v Mavzuna Chorieva (Tajikistan)

60kg Sofya       Ochigava (Russia) v Natasha Jonas (England)

Irish       squad

51kg (Flyweight)       Ceire Smith (Cavan)

60kg (Lightweight)       Katie Taylor (Bray)

75kg       (Middleweight) Sinead Kavanagh (Drimnagh)

Team manager: Anna       Moore

Coaches: Peter       Taylor and Zuar Antia

Physio: Mary Louis       Ryan