Afghanistan has two finalists for the first time in an Asian Championships
Afghanistan never had two finalists in a continental event in the past but their youth talents secured two spots at the ASBC Asian U22 & Youth Boxing Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka today.
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, French Polynesia, IBA-India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, IBA-Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the 23 participating nations in this championship.
Kazakhstan’s Mukhit Nurkabyluly became the first youth finalist today, he stopped Saudi Arabia’s Ziyad Alshehri at the light welterweight (63.5kg). The Kazakh boxer will be meeting for the title of the competition Kyrgyzstan’s Mukhammed Alimbekov who had a quick success against IBA-India’s Tarun Gandass.
Kyrgyzstan’s Ali Baryktabasov impressed in the previous national events and he tried to do his own style of boxing against Tajikistan’s Mukhammadsulton Sultonov at the welterweight (67kg) semi-final. The Tajik started the first round with punctual jabs and he had the advantage on the judges’ scorecards after six minutes of fight. Sultonov worked hard until the last gong and he will now meet for the title Kazakhstan’s Sultan Turdaly in two days.
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Akhmadi Arvaz moved forward from the first seconds against Australia’s Aden Nedanovski in the first semi-final of the light middleweight (71kg). The 16-year-old Kyrgyz was dominant in the first round and he caught the Aussie opponent in the corner therefore the referee counted Nedanovski. Arvaz was too strong for his Australian rival and he saved also power for the final action against Tajikistan’s powerful Alisherikhudo Kholov.
Tajikistan’s Abubakr Gafurov competed in schoolboys, junior and youth tournaments during his career and he proved his strong progress against IBA-India’s Harshit today. The Tajik middleweight (75kg) boxer was not only energetic but punctual in the attacks and his body shots were combined with strong jabs to finish the bout quickly. Gafurov’s quick RSC success meant that he can box for the gold medal of the weight class with Kazakhstan’s experienced Zhassulan Berdaly.
Afghanistan’s Firdous Najibi was highly confident in the exchanges against Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Kashmiri and the referee had to count his opponent in the first minute. The Saudi boxer suffered an injury in this light heavyweight (80kg) semi-final therefore Najibi became Afghanistan’s first finalist in Colombo. Najibi continued Alizada’s success who reached the final in Astana and the young Afghan will be boxing for the gold medal with Kazakhstan’s 18-year-old Igor Solovyev.
IBA-India’s Yash Kumar was impressive in his opener in Colombo and tried to gain the control against Afghanistan’s Abdullah Baheer Qayoumi in their cruiserweight (86kg) semi-final as well. The Indian overcame his Afghan opponent in the most of the attacks and his jabs guaranteed Kumar’s advantage after two rounds. The Indian marched to the finals in Colombo where he will now face Kyrgyzstan’s Aziret Avtandilov, the winner against Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Kystaubay.
After Firdous Najibi’s RSC success, Oman Hotak made the next sensational success for Afghanistan and he became the developing country’s second finalist. Hotak defeated IBA-Iraq’s Bashder Karar Hayder in a hectic heavyweight (92kg) contest which was stopped by the ringside doctor due to Hayder’s shoulder injury.
Orkhan Aghayev was born in Azerbaijan but he switched to the United Arab Emirates in the recent months to compete in the highest level of boxing. The super heavyweight (+92kg) boxer was competitive for Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Beksultan Kayratuly in all of the three rounds. Aghayev had nice actions against the star of the championships and he proved his excellent future potential but the Kazakh managed his path to the finals where he will meet Kyrgyzstan’s Karimzhan Imenkhodzhayev.
Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Farinoz Abdulloyeva and Kazakhstan’s Zhanel Imantayeva had a very tight first round in the first female contest of the day. The Tajik bantamweight (54kg) boxer tried to keep her opponent on long and she used her brilliant technical skills. Imantayeva made a great final round and surprisingly she won this semi-final therefore she can face with Vietnam’s Vu Thi Tom for the title.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Bich delivered the next sensational performance, she controlled the semi-final of the women’s featherweight (57kg) with confidence against Kyrgyzstan’s Elizaveta Lyneva who also progressed well in the recent half year. Nguyen’s final opponent will be Kazakhstan’s Aknur Tursyngali who had a warm-up against Sri Lanka’s enthusiast, Gamage Thiththagalla.
Kyrgyzstan’s Adelia Adylbek Kyzy is the best youth female boxer in their national team who had strong development in all aspects of boxing. After the first busy round, she switched into a higher tempo and she had the full control in the second and third periods of their lightweight (60kg) semi-final. Kazakhstan’s ASBC Champion Tolganay Kassymkhan and her teammate, another Asian Champion, Alina Kudaigenova won the last bouts of the day.
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