Akim Prizes Junior Tournament in Ust-Kamenogorsk
Kazakhstan claimed eight gold medals in the Junior International Tournament in Ust-Kamenogorsk
Kazakhstan is always active to host international events and this time the Central Asian boxing power hosted the Akim Prizes Junior Tournament which was held in Ust-Kamenogorsk which city’s Kazakh name is Oskemen. Kazakhstan claimed eight out of the fourteen gold medals in the event while Russia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan also secured top positions in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
The event was a preparation for the later actions especially to the Children of Asia Games which will be held in Yakutsk, Russia this July. Boxers who were born in 2000 and in 2001 were eligible to compete in the Akim Prizes Junior Tournament in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Altogether 128 boxers took part in the junior competition from host Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russia and Azerbaijan.
The first gold medal of the Akim Prizes Junior Tournament was achieved by Bekzat Makzhan of Kazakhstan who defeated his teammate Maksat Otegenov in the final of the 44 kg which is not official in the AIBA and ASBC events but the local organizers still added this category to the strong international competition.
Uzbekistan’s Samandar Holmuradov came from the city of Dzhizak to Ust-Kamenogorsk and following his gold at their Junior National Cup he was able to get another title following his victory over Russia’s Mogamed Shamsayev in the final. Kazakhstan’s Biybars Zheksen was the youngest winner of the Akim Prizes Junior Tournament who was born only in 2001 but his skills were enough to beat Kyrgyzstan’s Dastanbek Ormonov in the final of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) while Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Aibek Dossanov claimed only bronze in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
Azerbaijan’s lone gold medal was delivered by Aflatun Babayev at the Flyweight class (50 kg) who claimed his second national title last month and now he was able to beat Uzbekistan’s Abdulmalik Khalokov who trains in the Tashkent region. Russia’s Ilya Popov was gold medallist in the last edition of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships therefore his title in Ust-Kamenogorsk was not a surprise where he could beat Kazakhstan’s Nygmatulla Moldashev whilst Uzbekistan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Halimbek Utegenov lost his semi-final bout.
Kazakhstan’s Sunkar Taldybek was too strong for Kyrgyzstan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Adilet Egemberdi Uulu in the semi-final and he continued the winning path against his teammate Rakhat Seitzhan who defeated Uzbekistan’s top favourite Abdulaziz Abdupattayev in the semi-final of the Bantamweight class (54 kg). Kazakhstan’s next gold medal was achieved by Talgat Shaykenov
Kazakhstan’s Azat Asanov was silver medallist in the Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov Junior Prizes Tournament but this time he was able to win the gold in Ust-Kamenogorsk. Kazakhstan’s Yermakhan Zhakpekov had a great scalp in the semi-finals of the Light Welterweight class (63 kg) where he defeated Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Temurbek Sadullayev and continued the winning path in the final against Russia’s EUBC European Schoolboys Champion Oleg Zharkov.
Following Russia’s Aleksandr Sheshunov triumph over Uzbekistan’s Junior National Cup winner Navo Tamazov, Asia’s biggest junior star Timur Merzhanov won the gold medal at the Light Middleweight class (70 kg). The 16-year-old Uzbek star is the current AIBA Junior World Champion and ASBC Asian Junior Champion who could defeat in the final another big future hope Kazakhstan’s Beken Pernekhan in their repeat match.
Kazakhstan’s Gilani Dadayev defeated Russia’s Daniil Teterev in the final of the Middleweight class (75 kg) while his teammate Aibek Oralbay also won a gold medal in the Akim Prizes Junior Tournament after beating Elkhan Tabynbayev who was member of Kazakhstan’s junior team in 2015. The last gold medal was achieved by Russia’s EUBC European Schoolboys Champion Timur Slashchinin following his triumph over Kazakhstan’s Damir Toybay.
44 kg: Bekzat Makzhan, Kazakhstan
46 kg: Samandar Holmuradov, Uzbekistan
48 kg: Biybars Zheksen, Kazakhstan
50 kg: Aflatun Babayev, Azerbaijan
52 kg: Ilya Popov, Russia
54 kg: Sunkar Taldybek, Kazakhstan
57 kg: Talgat Shaykenov, Kazakhstan
60 kg: Azat Asanov, Kazakhstan
63 kg: Yermakhan Zhakpekov, Kazakhstan
66 kg: Aleksandr Sheshunov, Russia
70 kg: Timur Merzhanov, Uzbekistan
75 kg: Gilani Dadayev, Kazakhstan
80 kg: Aibek Oralbay, Kazakhstan
+80 kg: Timur Slashchinin, Russia