Amy Broadhurst is backing herself to fulfil a lifelong dream and qualify for the Olympics at next month's European Games in Poland.
The Dundalk woman was both world and European champion at light-welterweight (63kg) last year but that is not an Olympic weight and Kellie Harrington fights at 60kg so she will be aiming to qualify at welterweight (66kg) for Paris next year.
Broadhurst was shocked by Gráinne Walsh at National Elites in January at welter but subsequently claimed gold at the prestigious Strandja Memorial boxing tournament in Bulgaria when Walsh made a first-round exit.
"I’m one step away from qualifying for the Olympics," she told RTÉ Sport. "I have to make the semi-final to qualify.
"That has been my dream since I was a young girl so to be that close is unbelievable and I’m really looking forward to them.
"I'm very confident in myself. I’ve been to seven European championships already, from junior up to elite, and I’ve medalled at every single one of them so I’m confident I can do this again."
Speaking at the unveiling of Flogas as the official energy partner of Team Ireland for Paris 2024, Broadhurst was confident that the Irish women's team could build on the three gold, two silver and two bronze medals they took home from the European Championships last October.
"If we are fully focused and we box to the best of our ability, no-one can beat us," she said.
"Not to take anything away from the men’s team but our women’s team is flying.
"We brought back six or seven medals from the Europeans in Montenegro. We’re a force when it comes to international boxing.
"I’m very confident in myself and all of the team that we’re going to do very well at these games."
"It would be a real shame for not just Ireland but every country to lose boxing from the Olympics"
The third edition of the European Games will serve as the qualifier for Paris as the International Boxing Association continues to be suspended by the International Olympic Committee, which has concerns over the IBA's governance under the leadership of its Russian president Umar Kremlev.
The IBA recently demanded that the event in Krakow not count for Olympic purposes, as Russian and Belarusian boxers will not be allowed to take part, and then tried to dictate which boxers were eligible but the IOC swiftly moved to confirm that "the IBA will not be involved in Paris 2024's boxing qualifications and tournament".
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association was among 21 national federations to boycott the recent IBA-run world championships and has signalled a vote will be taken on whether or not to join the new breakaway amateur boxing federation, World Boxing, which hopes to ensure the sport retains its Olympic status in the longer term.
Boxing is not currently included in the programme for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
"It’s important for me and for everybody else that boxing is kept in the Olympics," said Broadhurst
"If it's not in, what do these amateur boxers have to work towards?"
"If going down this road, setting up World Boxing, keeps boxing in the Olympics, I’m all for it.
"It would be a real shame for not just Ireland but every country to lose boxing from the Olympics because it’s one of the most popular sports."
