Olympics tips: Our verdict on Ireland’s best medal hopes at 2021 Tokyo Games

Paddy Power's Ollie Fallon runs the rule over Ireland’s best hopes in Tokyo.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Boxing

Ireland will send seven boxers to compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer.

Rio Olympian Brendan Irvine (Flyweight) captains the strong team but it’s Lisburn’s Kurt Walker (Featherweight) who represents the best hope of a medal in the Men’s. The Belfast man was Gold medallist at bantamweight in the 2019 European Games and won Silver at the 2018 Commonwealth games representing Northern Ireland.

Hopes are high for our women with European games silver medallist and #1 seed Kellie Harrington (Lightweight) our leading hope but Michaela Walsh (Featherweight) who also won silver at the Europeans is not without a shout either.

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Rowing

Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy are regarded as the best in the world in the lightweight double skulls discipline and the long odds-on price would suggest that they are likely to stand at the top of the podium.

Philip Doyle and Ronan Byrne might be a better betting proposition. The pair take part in the double skulls discipline and won silver at the World Championships in 2019. That form gives them a great chance of getting amongst the medals.

In the Women’s Single Sculls Sanita Puspure is on the hunt for an elusive Olympic medal to add to her two World Championships. This will likely be the 39-year old’s last chance at the games, but she has a great chance of being the first woman ever to bring a rowing medal home to Ireland.

Golf

Rory McIlroy admits patriotism is not a driving factor in his commitment to this year’s Olympic games. He feels it is his duty as one of the best players in the world to be there.

A world-class field will take part in the hunt for a gold medal headed by Jon Rahm. Shane Lowry will also make the trip and will relish representing his country at the games. After a strong finish at The Open last week, he is not without a chance.

There are six places on offer and both the Irish competitors have each-way chances.

In the Women’s golf, Leona Maguire has been in great form and is definitely in with a squeak of making the podium.

The Rest

Rio Silver medallist Annalise Murphy is back and is decent odds to win a medal in the Laser Radial, while Love Islander Greg O’Shea and our rugby 7s team, Cyclist Dan Martin, our showjumpers and Pentathlete Natalya Coyle are all in with shout.

Ireland’s best medal hopes:

Boxing:

Kurt Walker to Win a Medal

Kellie Harrington – Womens Lightweight Gold Medal Winner

Rowing:

Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, Philip Doyle and Ronan Byrne and Sanita Puspure All to Win a Medal

Golf:

Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy or Leona Maguire to win a Gold Medal at the Olympics

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