Angelina Lukas and Atichai Phoemsap are the Asian heroes at the Eindhoven Box Cup
The Eindhoven Box Cup is a developing international elite competition in the Netherlands where boxers from four continents attended for the titles. The Asian continent finally claimed five gold medals in the Eindhoven Box Cup and the two of the best trophies bagged by Kazakhstan’s Angelina Lukas and Thailand’s Atichai Phoemsap.
Among the Asian nations, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Hong Kong all sent teams to the Eindhoven Box Cup. ASBC Vice-President Mr. Chaiwat Chotima travelled with the Thai team to follow the development of their teenagers. ASBC Executive Committee member Mr. Dian Gomes worked in the event to support the Sri Lankan team.
Lukas won the Kazakh final in the women’s flyweight (51kg)
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Women’s Youth Champion Zhansaya Abdraimova claimed two bronze medals in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships. The 19-year-old talent had to meet in the final of the women’s flyweight (51kg) with her teammate Angelina Lukas who claimed gold in the Nations Women’s Cup. Abdraimova began their fight better and her excellent technique paid off when she landed her counter-punches. Lukas changed her rhythm in the beginning of the second round and she was able to turn back their exciting final in Eindhoven.
Kazakhstan’s second gold medal was taken by Dametken Kelimbet
Kazakhstan’s Dametken Kelimbet has been attending in the boxing events since 2013 and increased her experiences step by step. The Kazakh featherweight (57kg) boxer impressed in the recent international events and advanced also to the final of the Eindhoven Box Cup. Kelimbet had to meet with Mali’s All Africa Games silver medallist Marine Camara who trains and lives in France. The taller African was a competitive rival for Kelimbet who tried to reduce the fighting range and her efforts were enough to win the second title for Kazakhstan at the Eindhoven Box Cup.
Kazakhstan’s Sandugash Abilkhan also claimed gold in the Eindhoven Box Cup
Sandugash Abilkhan had to meet also with a French girl in the day of the semi-finals as many of her teammates but she also defeated her opponent, Miriam Sidibe at the lightweight (60kg) in Eindhoven yesterday. The 20-year-old Kazakh boxer had excellent youth results in 2016 and in 2017 but she is slightly inexperienced in the elite age group yet. Abilkhan used her longer reach in the first round of the final well against Portugal’s Ana Catarina Bajuoco. The Portuguese girl was too static in their title contest and Abilkhan had enough technical skills to win Kazakhstan’s third gold medal in Eindhoven.
Thailand’s Khunatip Pidnuch won his first international tournament
Thailand’s 19-year-old Khunatip Pidnuch impressed in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament which was his first boxing event following he switched from Muay Thai. The Thai teenager eliminated Netherlands’ EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Can Van Peer in the semi-finals which was his most difficult contest in the Eindhoven Box Cup. Pidnuch was confident in the final against England’s Numan Hussain and won the first title for Thailand in the event at the Group B of the lightweight (63kg).
Thailand’s Atichai Phoemsap defeated the Dutch No.1 in their final
Thailand’s Atichai Phoemsap won the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and the ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships last year. The 19-year-old talent was named as the Best Boxer of the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament and he arrived to Eindhoven in better physical skills. The rising star dominated his semi-final against Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya Weerasinghe and started confidently against Netherlands’ Rio 2016 Olympian and European Games bronze medallist Enrico La Cruz. The Thai teenager played with his world class opponent combining his footwork with virtuoso style of boxing. Phoemsap had only difficulties in the third round but as a teenager he defeated the Dutch No.1 in the final of the Group A of the lightweight (63kg).
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