Boxing captain Brendan Irvine suffers first round exit

Alas, as in Rio, the 25-year-old came unstuck in his opening bout, this time against Asian Games medalist Paalam, who was given the nod by four of five ringside judges.

Brendan Irvine 

Ireland’s Olympic boxing captain Brendan Irvine has exited the games following a split decision defeat to Carlo Paalam of the Philippines.

Flag-bearer at last week’s opening ceremony, ‘Wee Rooster’ entered Tokyo 2020 as the sole remaining member from Ireland’s 2016 roster, the Belfast native having overcome injury to secure qualification prior to the postponement of last summer’s games.