AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships – Day5 Report

29 Asian women boxers advanced to the quarter-finals in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

The fifth competition day in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships finished in Astana, Kazakhstan where China, the host nation and India are the best Asian countries in the competition. 14 Asian boxers advanced to the quarter-finals in Astana yesterday while further 15 athletes secured their places in the last eight. Six out of the eight remained boxers at the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) came from Asia therefore the continent is keeping its hegemony in the lowest category.

Light Flyweight class (48 kg):

DPR Korea’s ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships silver medallist U Yong Gum had a successful opening bout in Astana and continued her strong performance against Germany’s Sarah Bormann in her second bout. The North Korean boxer controlled the bout from the first minute and advanced to the quarter-finals as first Asian athlete at the Light Flyweight class (48 kg).
Mongolia’s Altantsetseg Lutsaikhan is a new face in the national team who can competes in her first ever big tournament. The 21-year-old Mongolian National Champion was a bit nervous in the opening round against Ukraine’s experienced Natalya Knyaz but she could change her rhythm after the first break. Lutsaikhan was superb in the second and third rounds which decided their contests and the Mongolian advanced to the last eight.
Kazakhstan’s defending AIBA Women’s World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay moved back to her original weight class and after her debut success she had to meet with Sweden’s Lise Sandebjer in the contest. The 23-year-old local star was confident, felt the best fighting distance and advanced to the quarter-finals winning her bout by unanimous decision in the front of the local boxing fans.
Wang Yuyan replaced defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion E Naiyan in the national team and had a big battle against Italy’s Valeria Calabrese which she could solve it successfully. Philippines’ Josie Gabuco was AIBA Women’s World Champion in 2012 and after some unexpected losses she was able to return to the Light Flyweight class (51 kg) in top shape. Her opponent was Belarus’ National Champion Volha Lushchyk who could do the similar performance as Gabuco only in one round.
India’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sarjubala Shamjetsabam Devi was in different level than Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Games quarter-finalist Kaluhath Erandi Gimhani De Silva who was brave but could not solve the tactical issues against her tough rival.

Flyweight class (51 kg):

Kazakhstan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Zhaina Shekerbekova felt the rhythm and the support of the home crowd against DPR Korea’s Ri Hyang Mi and took the lead very quickly after the first round. Shekerbekova had a few difficulties in the third round but after that she was enough strong to watch her footwork and attacks in the final two minutes which decided their contest to the favour of the Kazakh boxer.
Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Peamwilai Laopeam looked more powerful than Morocco’s AIBA African Olympic Qualification Event winner Zohra Ez-Zahraoui and controlled the first two rounds. Laopeam saved energy in the third round when she danced through her North African rival and also could not show her very best in the final two minutes but her performance was clearly enough to beat the Moroccan boxer.
Chinese Taipei’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Lin Yu Ting used her height advantage against Greece’s Antonia Papoutsaki who tried to get closer to the Asian boxer in the contest. Lin was in different level today and advanced to the quarter-finals of the category where her next opponent will be Poland’s Sandra Drabik.
China’s three-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Ren Cancan had to meet with one of her main rival Russia’s experienced Elena Saveleva who was also AIBA Women’s World Champion. Ren was patient in the ring, awaited for the best attacking moments and her tactic what such a successful against her European rival. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Ren who advanced to the quarter-finals as fourth Asian in the weight class.

Lightweight class (60 kg):

Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Tassamalee Thongjan tried to control against Switzerland’s lone boxer in Astana, Sandra Brugger. The Thai boxer overtook the Swiss veteran in attacks in their second round and tried to keep the same level in the second part of their bout. Thongjan tried to move more in feet but Brugger raised the number of her attacks and eliminated the Thai boxer. Asia’s second boxer in the weight class China’s Yin Junhua lost to Finland’s Mira Potkonen in the fifth competition day.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):

Kazakhstan’s National Champion Zarina Tsoloyeva joined to their squad in 2011 and raised her experiences in several international events. She had to meet with Italy’s Baku 2015 European Games silver medallist Valentina Alberti who was seeded as No.1 in Astana. Kazakhstan’s 23-year-old boxer proved top performance and defeated her European rival in the front of the home crowd.
China’s Yang Wenlu won the gold medal at the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Wulanchabu and also in the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia a few months ago. She had to box with her main rival US star Jajaira Gonzalez who won all of the important youth and junior events in the recent years. The Chinese boxer exceeded the expectations against her star rival and her will controlled the bout which meant Yang eliminated one of her main opponent in the weight class.

Heavyweight class (+81 kg):

China’s Wang Shijin defeated Uzbekistan’s Guzal Ismatova in the final of the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Wulanchabu last year. Ismatova who began her career in their national combat sport in kurash, proved better performance than last time. The referee counted the Uzbek boxer in the second round but Ismatova was able to fight until the final bell which was a great effort from the Central Asian hope who began boxing only three years ago.
India’s Seema Poonia joined to the national team last year after several national competitions and her level reached the bests of her weight class. The Nations Women’s Cup winner Indian dominated her contest against Azerbaijan’s Aynur Rzayeva who is member of their national team since 2009. The Indian boxer was quicker in the attacks and her single jabs stopped Rzayeva mainly in the second and third rounds. The Azeri boxer received also a warning from the referee therefore Poonia could win their contest by large margin of difference.