Historical Palestinian success in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships
The ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships began with preliminary contests in the Uzbek capital in Tashkent. The winners of today’s bouts advanced to the last 16 of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. Besides to the Asian powers, Pakistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka won contests on Day1 while Palestine delivered their first ever triumph in the history of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships.
Light flyweight (49kg):
Malaysia’s Muhammad Fuad Bin Redzuan was not enough shape in the first round against Sri Lanka’s Thiwanka Ranasinghe Palleha but the two-time Commonwealth Games quarter-finalist moved better in the second. The 25-year-old Malaysian, who is member of the national team since 2009, overcame his Sri Lankan rival in the second round, and delivered smarter boxing. The Malaysian southpaw was not enough quick in the third and the younger Sri Lankan boxer caught him in the last minutes which delivered the first surprise of the championships.
Iraq’s Hasan Ali Naser was more experienced than Bhutan’s South Asian Games bronze medallist Tashi Wangdi. Bhutan’s southpaw was a competitive rival to the Iraqi boxer who won international events in Kazakhstan during his career. The Iraqi boxer turned up the heat and his efforts were enough to beat his younger opponent in Tashkent.
Flyweight (52kg):
The first Uzbek boxer in action at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships was Jasurbek Latipov who opened the program of the evening session today. The AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist experienced Uzbek boxer demonstrated his technique against Pakistan’s Syed Muhammad Asif in the first round. The 25-year-old Uzbek boxer was quicker than his Pakistani rival and his right-handed hooks worked well in the bout. Latipov proved he is better than Asif and won their contest by large margin of difference which means he can box with Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev.
China’s Chang Yong was ASBC Asian Champion in 2011 and regained his place in the national team in the recent months. The Chinese boxer found a great weapon in the first round against Iran’s Sajad Mohammadpour, his right-handed hooks were reached the target all the time. China’s experienced boxer delivered the better punches in their contest and advanced to the last 16 in Tashkent.
Bantamweight (56kg):
Mongolia’s Battumur Misheelt is a new national team member who won their National Championships and he was nervous in the first round against Turkmenistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shatlykmyrat Myradov. The Turkmen boxer launched great counter-attacks against his taller rival and worked well in the first round. The 22-year-old Myradov exceeded the expectations with his strong fighting spirit and eliminated the favourite Mongolian.
South Korea’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Han Young Hun replaced Kim Ju Seong in the final minute of the championships and he used his longer reach better than the Mongolian boxer in the previous bout. The 20-year-old Korean launched powerful punches mainly in the third round against Singapore’s Danial Abdul Jalil and advanced to the last 16 winning the bout by unanimous decision.
Kyrgyzstan’s Sirodjiddin Abdullaev won several AOB tournaments in the recent one year but he was not enough shape against Philippines’ Mario Bautista in their bout. The Filipino talent is only 20 and received the right to box for his country at the very first time but he exceeded the expectations with his superb technique. The referee counted also the Kyrgyz boxer and Bautista advanced to the last 16 of the category.
Lightweight class (60kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov moved up to the lightweight (60kg) only in the recent months but he adopted the level of the category very quickly. The 26-year-old Kyrgyz boxer had hard punches against South Korea’s Choi Hae Ju whose skills developed well in the recent one year. Malabekov had better shots in the last round and advanced to the next preliminary stage in Tashkent.
Tajikistan’s Asian Student Championships silver medallist 19-year-old Bakhodur Usmonov launches several right-handed jabs in the first round against Iraq’s Ammar Jabbar Hassan. The Iraqi boxer changed his tactic in the second and moved more on feet to avoid those jabs during their exchanges. That change delivered for the Iraqi boxer a place in the last 16 following the decision was 3-2 to Hassan.
Light welterweight (64kg):
Iran’s Ismail Armash is a new face in the national team who replaced Seyed Dana Esmaeilzadeh in the final minute. The Iranian boxer, who is competing only in his second international tournament, moved more on feet than Nepal’s veteran Deepak Shrestha and controlled their bout from the first seconds in Tashkent. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Armash who will be boxing now with Mongolia’s Seed No.1 Baatarsukh Chinzorig in the next stage of the championships. Kazakhstan’s National Champion Bekdaulet Ibragimov also advanced to the last 16 following his great performance against Malaysia’s experienced Khir Akyazlan Bin Azmi.
Welterweight (69kg):
Jordan’s teenage sensation Zeyad Eshaish joined to the elite national team at the age of 18 last year and competed in the qualification events. Jordan’s talented boxer found the best fighting distance very quickly against Bhutan’s Sangay Wangdi and used his comfortable range. He launched simply more punches than his newcomer rival and knocked down Wangdi one time in the second round. Bhutan’s debutant survived that moment but Eshaish won the bout by unanimous decision in Tashkent.
Malaysia’s promising talent Theena Thayalan Raja Selvan has got Uzbek coach at home and won a competition in Uzbekistan before his 19th birthday. The Malaysian youngster tried to do his best against Qatar’s Rio 2016 Olympian Thulasi Tharumalingam in the evening session of the first competition day. The Malaysian used his longer hands but Qatar’s pride moved closer to him and one of his strong shot decide their contest.
Turkmenistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Serdar Amangeldiyev met with Chinese Taipei’s Huang Chao Cheng who was born also in 1998 as his Central Asian opponent. Amangeldiyev had the right game plan against his Taiwanese rival and controlled all of the rounds in the contest. Turkmenistan’s teenage talent advanced to the next stage of championships with his great performance.
Middleweight (75kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s new National Champion Yktyiar Shabdanbayev claimed silver medal in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament this year and tried to use his jab against Thailand’s Pathomsak Kuttiya. The Thai boxer, who won several national titles, was stronger in the first six minutes and in spite of the Kyrgyz talent’s great finish Kuttiya can prepares to his next bout in Tashkent.
Chinese Taipei’s Kan Chia Wei robbed to the bests of the middleweight (75kg) last year and the 19-year-old talent started strongly against China’s Wen Yinhang. The Chinese boxer, who regained his place in the national squad after three years, launched jabs in the first round while Kan operated with hooks. Wen worked better in the second round and overcame his younger rival in the actions and eliminated Chinese Taipei’s talent.
Palestine’s Qasim Abudabaat is a newcomer in the international level but the 21-year-old boxer was brave in his debuting contest against Sri Lanka’s Chamara Kumara Marasinghe. The Sri Lankan athlete had more bouts during his career but he received a big punch in the first round and the Indian referee counted him. Abudabaat felt he is enough strong to beat his South Asian rival and he was able to finish the bout in the second round which was Palestine’s first ever triumph in the history of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships.