Roscommon sisters among Irish boxing team for first-ever training camp in China

Roscommon sisters Aoife and Lisa O'Rourke are part of a female Irish boxing team travelling to China today (Tuesday) for a training camp as part of preparations for the 2025 Women's World Championshis in Serbia next month.

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) said this is the first time a High Performance team has travelled to China for a camp.

The Irish group will train with China's first team at the Chinese National Olympic Sport Centre in the Chaoyang District of Beijing.

In addition to Aoife and Lisa O'Rourke, who are from Castlerea, the travelling team includes European U23 silver medalist, Carleigh Irving, and Paris Olympians Daina Moohouse, Jenny Lehane, Michaela Walsh and Tullamore's Gráinne Walsh.

The IABA said the camp, taking place February 11 to 22, will include high-level sparring, and co-training with the China team, and will build on preparations which have already included a domestic sparring camp with France in December.

High Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, said: "This is a superb and exciting opportunity for two of the best women’s teams in the world to train together and learn from one another as part of federation’s preparation for the Women’s World Championships.

"The development potential of this training camp is significant for each boxer and for the squad as a whole."