A round-up of today's other sports news in brief
Taylor one fight away from bronze if light is green
BOXING:Katie Taylor will be just one fight away from claiming at least a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) give women's boxing the green light.
Taylor’s weight category is among those proposed by World amateur boxing chiefs AIBA to the IOC for inclusion in 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The AIBA proposal calls for the introduction of 40 female boxers across five weight categories – 47kg, 53kg, 60kg, 69kg and 75kg.
If the AIBA proposals are accepted then female boxers will go straight into the Olympic quarter-finals in London.
And that would mean Taylor would have to win just one fight to finish in a podium position because the beaten semi-finalists in boxing are both awarded bronze medals.
Taylor, the reigning World, European and European Union 60kg champion, is hoping the sport will debut at the 30th Olympiad. If it is introduced then it will almost certainly mean that the number of places for male boxers will be reduced or that one of the male weight categories will be dropped.
At present 286 male boxers compete. It is understood the IOC will facilitate women’s boxing as long as the total quota of male and female boxers does not exceed 286.
The IOC are expected to decide in October, although it is understood that a decision could also be made this June.
Kerins heads to Vegas on a high
EQUESTRIAN:Darragh Kerins will line up for the Rolex FEI World Cup show jumping finals in Las Vegas next month following his first place tie on Night Train in Sunday night's qualifier in Tampa, reports Margie McLoone.
From a start list of 45, only four made it through to the jump-off round. Christine McCrea again went clear on Promised Land in 33.25 while Mclain Ward tried too hard with Phillippa and had one fence down in a very fast 31.69.
Kent Farrington then set the standard when coming home unpenalised on Up Chiqui in 32.63, a time matched by 32-year-old Sligo-born Kerins and Night Train, resulting in an unprecedented tie in the €56,800 Tampa Grand Prix.
Cregan returns for England game
HOCKEY:Irish captain Eimear Cregan returns to the senior international squad for next month's games against England at Belfield after a lengthy absence due to a stress fracture to her foot, reports Mary Hannigan. Railway Union's Emma Smyth has been called up for the first time by coach Gene Muller for the April 10th and 12th Tests, with Ciara O'Brien, Niamh Small, Alex Speers or Michelle Harvey all unavailable that weekend.
IRISH SQUAD:L Colvin, L Healy, C McKean, N Symmons (all Loreto), L Barr, B Cleland, M Frazer (all Ballymoney), E Cregan (capt), C Sargent (both Cork Harlequins), E Clarke, S McCay (both Ulster Elks), R Flinn, L Jacob (both UCD), E Stewart (Armagh), M Goode (Bray), E Smyth (Railway Union).
FEI want to speak to Irish rider
EQUESTRIAN:The Federation Equestre International (FEI) has confirmed that an international Irish rider has been asked to respond to queries with regard to an incident during the Dublin Horse Show last August, writes Margie McLoone.
The rider, who must respond by April 17th, is being investigated over an alleged breach of the FEI’s anti-doping and medication control regulations.
CRICKET:A floodlit Test at Lord's between England and Bangladesh in 2010, complete with so-called "pyjama" clothing, is one of several ideas under discussion to raise the appeal of the longer version of cricket. England are due to host Bangladesh in two Tests in May 2010.
