Boxer Kellie Harrington guarantees medal win for Ireland at Olympics

The Dubliner was victorious in the quarter finals.

Irish boxer Kellie Harrington has guaranteed a medal win at the Tokyo Olympics following her victory against Algeria's Imane Khelif in the quarter finals in the lightweight division this morning. All five judges were unanimous in declaring the Dublin boxer victorious. Harrington had previously defeated Italy's Rebecca Nicoli on Friday. The boxer is now guaranteed at least a bronze medal, and she may have the opportunity to upgrade it to a silver or gold in the semi-finals later this week. The semi-final bout will take place on Thursday morning at 6am Irish time, and Harrington will face Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee. Speaking to RTÉ after this morning's victory, Harrington said that she felt "overwhelmed with emotions." "Sometimes, you think of getting here, and never think of getting medals or anything," the 31 year-old said. "Sometimes I think I'm lucky. You can't be that lucky to be winning all these things and then end up here and have a bronze medal in my bag from the Olympic Games." She continued: "Everything I've achieved, I owe it to Noel Burke, my club coach at home and I owe it to these men (Olympic coaches) and the rest of the Irish high performance team. My teammates as well for all the sparring and the preparation, all the support we give each other." Harrington added that she's also grateful for all the support coming from home. "I've heard that it's lit back home and I'm just so happy and my emotions really come when it comes to this, because to be able to to give them something to be happy about and to sing and dance for... I'm just one person lifting a little bit of a nation." She added: "Hakuna matata. It means no worries for the rest of your days, that's what I say. "It wasn't an amazing fight, but it was a fight that I won."