The entire 13-strong Australian boxing team are just one fight away from Paris 2024 qualification, with the full team progressing to the finals at the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands.
Harry Garside, Tina Rahimi, Yusuf Chothia, Shannan Davey and Teremoana Teremoana all won their semi-final bouts today in Honiara’s Friendship Hall, joining teammates Caitlin Parker, Monique Suraci, Tiana Echegaray, Marissa Williamson Pohlman, Tyla McDonald, Charlie Senior, Callum Peters and Adrian Paoletti in the finals.
Finals will be contested across tomorrow and Saturday. The Pacific Games acts as the Oceania continental Olympic qualification event for boxing, with the winner of each Olympic weight class securing a quota by name for Paris 2024.
Tokyo Olympian Harry Garside stopped Pemberton Lele of Solomon Islands in the third round to quiet the vocal hometown crowd and progress to the final.
“I felt good, I knew the home crowd would be loud,” Harry said. “The fight before [with another local fighter] was absolutely electric and they kept it up as he walked out. He showed up to fight, caught me with a big overhand in first round, but I think I adapted well.
“I’m treating Saturday’s final like every other fight. I’ve got to stay focused, my opponent in the final from Fiji is class, it looks like he can bang and swings for the fences. I’m expecting a really hard fight.
“Australian boxing right now is in such a special spot. To be on the verge of qualifying maybe a full team is unbelievable. The atmosphere and camaraderie in this team is special – we spend so much time with other through the year, if we can all qualify that would be a dream come true.”
Tina defeated Jennifer Peters of New Zealand in a unanimous decision, getting emotional at the thought of Paris 2024 qualification.
“I was so nervous, my legs felt like jelly, but I’m so happy to get the win,” Tina said. “I actually got teary afterwards, I know it’s not the final, but I just can’t imagine how I’ll feel if I actually qualify.
“I literally get goosebumps thinking about qualifying for the Olympics. I’ve envisioned this, I know it’s something I really can do, I believe in myself. To know I’m two days away from this potentially becoming a reality is an amazing feeling.”
Thirty-year-old Tiana Echegaray is amazed at being one fight away from Olympic qualification, after only trying out boxing for the first time in 2019.
“The support from back home is so amazing, more than I ever could have imagined,” Echegaray said. “I think especially because I didn’t grow up as an elite athlete, it was a bit of a surprise for people to hear I’m going for the Olympics.
“I started boxing quite late, as a 26-year-old - four years ago I wanted a change up from gym, because I just finding normal gym sessions so boring. I’ve gone from trying boxing for the first time in 2019, to being one fight away from qualifying for the Olympics. It’s been a massive few years, it’s still so crazy to me.”
Tiana, Tyla, Marissa, Caitlin, Charlie, Callum and Adrian will fight for their Paris 2024 quota on Friday, with the remaining team members’ final fights on Saturday.
