'Sanita Puspure was flying the flag for Irish rowing when nobody else was'

'She has done rowing and Ireland proud. She can hold her head high knowing what she has done. She has inspired young boys and young girls all over the country'

Ireland’s Sanita Puspure dejected after the race. Picture: INPHO/Photosport/Steve McArthur

Irish Rowing Team manager Feargal O'Callaghan has praised two-time world champion Sanita Puspure as the Cork rower suffered a shock defeat in her women’s single sculls semi-final on Thursday morning.

Fifth place meant Ballincollig’s Puspure failed to make the final, despite expectations that the 2018 and 2019 world champion would join Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy in bringing home a medal from Japan.