Thailand’s strong day in the Asian Games
Twenty quarter-final contests were held in the boxing tournament of the Asian Games in Jakarta on Day5. The winners advanced to the semi-finals and they are all guaranteed medallists in the Asian Games. The fifth competition day saw several surprises and Thailand produced perfect performance in the Indonesian capital.
Altogether 194 boxers from 31 countries are fighting for the 10 gold medals in the boxing event of the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games. China, host Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Mongolia and Thailand are attending with maximum number of 10 boxers in the Asian Games.
Kyrgyzstan’s Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev and his newcomer opponent DPR Korea’s O Tae Bom both won already two contests in the Asian Games. The Kyrgyz flyweight (52kg) boxer did his very best in their contest and he looked more technician than his North Korean rival. Usenaliev, who lost only one bout in 2018, controlled their bout which delivered for him his first ever medal in an Asian Games.
Thailand’s Rujakran Juntrong replaced Somchay Wongsuwan in the final minutes at the lightweight (60kg) and it was an excellent decision from the coaching staff. The 22-year-old boxer had a hard opponent Indonesia’s Farrand Papendang who had more international experiences than his Thai rival. Juntrong felt the rhythm from the first seconds and he was able to win their bout by unanimous decision in Jakarta.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shunkor Abdurasulov joined to the national team in the beginning of this year following his first national elite title. The 20-year-old Uzbek lightweight (60kg) boxer had hard job against Kyrgyzstan’s Argen Kadyrbek Uulu who replaced Munarbek Seyitbek Uulu. Abdurasulov had to do his very best to beat his Kyrgyz rival in Jakarta winning the bout by 3:2.
Turkmenistan’s Hursand Imankuliyev won the Feliks Stamm Memorial Tournament in Warsaw this year and impressed in the opening two preliminary rounds of the men’s lightweight (60kg) in Jakarta. Imankuliyev next opponent was Mongolia’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Erdenebat Tsendbaatar who is another favourite. Both boxers were born in 1996 and gave in everything to their bout which was won by the Mongolian talent who was tactically better today.
Jordan’s Zeyad Eshaish will be turning to 20 only later this year but he is a super talented boxer who is member of the national elite team since 2016. The welterweight (69kg) boxer had unpredictable movements and tricky style against Qatar’s Rio 2016 Olympian Thulasi Tharumalingam who trusted in his power today. The more technician boxer from Jordan won their contest by unanimous decision and claimed a guaranteed medal in Jakarta.
Iran’s No.1 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sajjad Kazemzadeh defeated Thailand’s three-time Olympian Saylom Ardee in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament in Bangkok last month but on their re-match the result was the opposite. The 32-year-old Ardee taught the first lession and tactically he was better than his nine-year younger Iranian rival in Jakarta.
Thailand’s Nilawan Techasuep involved to the national team only this year but she attended in several preparation events to raise her international experiences. The Thai featherweight (57kg) boxer was excellent in the first round against Kazakhstan’s returning hope Saniya Sultankyzy and took the advantage. The Kazakh boxer found her best rhythm only in the final round which was not enough against the confident Thai athlete.
China’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Yin Junhua eliminated the top gold medal contender of the women’s featherweight (57kg) Nesthy Petecio of Philippines therefore her way in now easier to the finals. The 28-year-old boxer had to face with South Korea’s Im Ae Ji who claimed gold medal in the Guwahati 2017 AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships. The Chinese boxer controlled the bout against the 19-year-old Korean and she is now medallist in the Asian Games.
Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sudaporn Seesondee attended in several categories in the recent years and she found her best the lightweight (60kg) in 2018. The experienced Thai boxer was slightly better in the first round than Kazakhstan’s Rimma Volosenko and she dictated the rhythm. Volosenko increased her rhythm also but Seesondee’s skills were enough to eliminate her Kazakh rival.
Indonesia’s two experienced women boxers such as Beatrichx Aldriani Suguro and Christian Marwan Jembay were eliminated in the preliminary stages. Their third and last remained woman boxer 20-year-old Huswatun Hasanah has done her best ever performance against India’s veteran Ramilal Pavitra. The Indonesian boxer was energetic and felt the support of the home crowd which delivered for her a place in the semi-final and the first guaranteed medal for the host country.
South Korea’s two-time ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Oh Yeon Ji is one of the main gold medal contenders of the women’ lightweight (60kg) who had to meet with China’s AIBA Women’s World Champion Yang Wenlu in the quarter-finals. The 28-year-old Korean, who is member of the national squad since 2008, received punches in the first round but from the second she could control their difficult bout in Jakarta which means she is now guaranteed medallist in the Asian Games.
Don’t forget you can keep up with all of the action, news, results and photos by following ASBC on Facebook and Instagram.
ASBC website: www.asbcnews.org
ASBC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASBC.Boxing/
ASBC Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asbc_official/