Roscommon sisters to begin world championship bids on Wednesday and Thursday

Roscommon sisters Aoife and Lisa O'Rourke will begin their involvement in the women's world boxing championships on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

The Castlerea duo are part of an eight-strong Irish team currently competing at the championships in Nis, Serbia.

Lisa O'Rourke (22), who sensationally won gold at the world championships in 2022, is competing at 70kg and will be in action this Wednesday evening at last 16 stage.

She will face Azerbaijan's Aynur Rzayeva, the 2016 European women's champion at 81+kg; who is also a 2022 European silver medalist, and a 2023 women's world bronze medalist.

Lisa's sister, Aoife (27), a two-time Olympian, is the top seed in her 75kg weight category.

She will be stepping through the ropes at the quarter-final stage, against either a Bulgarian or an Uzbekhistani opponent, knowing a win will guarantee her a medal.

Tullamore boxer Gráinne Walsh will be in action tomorrow (Tuesday) evening against the No 2 seed in her 66kg category, the reigning Asian champion, Uzbekistan's Navbakhor Khamidova.

It's been a difficult start to the championships for the Irish team, with defeats in their opening bouts for Judy Bobbett (81+kg), Carleigh Irving (48kg), Jenny Lehane (54kg) and Michaela Walsh (57kg).