Boxers Galal Yafai & Peter McGrail reach Tokyo 2020 before qualifier suspended

Yafai will hope to target a medal at Tokyo 2020 after his second round loss at Rio 2016.

Britain's Galal Yafai and Peter McGrail secured places at Tokyo 2020 with victories at the European Olympic qualifying event in the final hours before the competition in London was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The event, which was due to run until 24 March, began on Saturday and became a behind-closed-doors competition on Sunday following the rising number of Covid-19 cases across the UK.

Yafai (48-52kg) beat Russia's Rasul Saliev and McGrail (52-57kg) defeated the Czech Republic's Kevin Godla in their respective last-16 bouts on Monday.

"With everything that's gone on his week outside of boxing, it's great to just get it done," Yafai, 27, told BBC Sport.

"I put it (coronavirus) to the back of my mind this week, but it was tough and just before the fight I was told that the competition would end after today, so I was thinking 'oh gosh, I need to make sure I win'."

Team-mate McGrail added; "It was disappointing we couldn't have fans here to watch, but I understand the reasons why. I just knew I had to get the job done no matter what's going on with Coronavirus."

The 23-year-old, who won Youth Olympic bronze at Nanjing 2014, will make his senior Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, while Yafai will be looking to make up for the disappointment of a second-round loss at Rio 2016.

Briton Charley Davison moved to within one win of the Games by defeating Ireland's Carly McNaul in the 48-51kg division, but will have to wait for the competition to be rescheduled before taking on Polish third seed Sandra Drabik in the quarter-finals.

Davison (left) returned to boxing 18 months ago after a seven-year break to give birth to three children.

The qualifier at the Copper Box Arena was been organised by an International Olympic Committee (IOC) boxing taskforce (BTF) following the suspension of the sport's international federation AIBA last year.

Despite the Covid-19 outbreak wiping out the majority of the world's biggest sporting events during an unprecedented 24 hours on Friday the BTF initially resisted calls to reschedule the European Olympic Boxing qualifier.

They eventually - and reluctantly - announced late on Monday afternoon their plan to suspend the competition following the conclusion of day's fixtures.

"The BTF eventually took the decision to suspend the event today amid increasing global travel restrictions and quarantine measures in order to allow the participants from over 60 countries to adjust their travel plans and return home," read a statement.

"Safeguarding the wellbeing of the athletes, officials and all other participants is a top priority".

Qualifying events in the Americas as well as the final world qualifiers in May have also been postponed, but the Olympics are still scheduled to begin on 24 July.

Analysis - BBC Olympic reporter Nick Hope

Given the sheer volume of events which have been suspended, postponed or cancelled over the last week following the coronavirus outbreak it is no surprise that this Olympic boxing qualification tournament followed - the biggest question is why it took so long.

It is clear from speaking to officials at the Copper Box Arena that some feel the event should not have taken place at all, but there was a degree of pressure from the organisers - the International Olympic Committee (IOC) boxing taskforce - to press ahead due to the lack of time to schedule another full qualification competition before the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The IOC insist they "always put athlete welfare first" prevented fans from attending after the first day in response to concerns. Worries around potential travel restrictions beyond the scheduled finish date - which could have seen athletes and coaches stranded in the UK - were behind the official reason to suspend the action today.

Although many athletes are frustrated that their Olympic fate still hangs in the balance, those I spoke to are simply relieved that a decision has been made. They will hope the qualifiers can be concluded in May and June.