Bekzat Sattarkhanov Memorial Tournament

Kuanysh Bakyt defended his throne in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Memorial Tournament

The Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament was held in the city Turkistan which is a historical one in the Central Asian region. Altogether 143 men youth and 14 women elite boxers attended in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Memorial Tournament where Kazakhstan claimed all of the gold medals while only Kuanysh Bakyt could defend his throne in the event.
Bekzat Sattarkhanov was a super talented boxer who won the National Championships of Kazakhstan in 1999 and qualified to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games at the age of 19. Sattarkhanov won the gold medal in Sydney with superb performance defeating all of the stars of his weight class in Australia. After that amazing success Sattarkhanov was passed away due a car accident in the beginning of 2001.
Men boxers who were born in 1998 and 1999 were eligible to compete in the men’s youth event which was a preparation for several athletes to the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships which will be held in Pavlodar next month. Woman boxing was involved to the official program of the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament in 2015 and in the second edition of the female athletes the elite competitors could box in Turkistan.
Three women weight classes were held in Turkistan and the first gold medal went to Zhansaya Zhumagali who defeated Diaza Batalova of Russia in the final of the Flyweight class (51 kg). Ayzhan Khodzhabekova of Karagandy claimed medals in the recent national events and she was able to beat three-time Junior & Youth National Champion Maria Agapova in the final of the Lightweight class (60 kg). The third gold medal of the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Memorial Tournament was achieved by Violetta Knyazeva who had a close triumph in the final against her teammate Akbota Isagulova.
Ten men weight classes are scheduled in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Memorial Tournament where all of the gold medals were achieved by the host nation in spite of the fact Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, China and Russia also sent strong boxers to Turkistan. The first gold medal was achieved by Evgeny Pavlov who could not get any podium place in the Serik Sapiyev Prizes Youth Tournament but this time he could beat all of his four rivals including Nurzat Zhakyp of Taraz in the final while Kyrgyzstan’s strong Rustem Muratov secured only bronze in Turkistan.
Baktiyar Smagulov joined to the youth age group in January but he could take his first success in Turkistan where he was too smart for a local boxer in the final, Aytzhan Zhamalov. The gold medal of the Bantamweight class (56 kg) was acquired by another 17-year-old talent Ergazy Kuanyshbek who defeated Junior National Championships silver medallist Kanat Kamzanov in the final. Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Saimdjamshid Jafarov missed to get any medal at the Bantamweight class (56 kg).
27 boxers attended in the Lightweight class (60 kg) where an experienced international level athlete Berik Dzhedibayev claimed the gold medal following his success over Kazakhstan’s Junior National Champion Nurbol Sultanbay who joined to the youth age group also in January. ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Aybol Zhambirbay achieved the next gold medal in the event.
Marlen Alpamysh won his key contest in the semi-final against Kyrgyzstan’s Argen Sherbekov and continued his winning series over Nursultan Bekbolat in the final of the Welterweight class (69 kg). Serik Sapiyev Prizes Youth Tournament silver medallist Aman Kazangapov had strong performance against China’s Xinjiang-based Shinaer Haepwu in the final of the Middleweight class (75 kg) and claimed the title.
Following promising hope Nurzhan Nurabayev’s triumph 16-year-old Yerasyl Ziyada could win his first ever title in Turkistan. Kazakhstan’s Kuanysh Bakyt was the lone boxer in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament who could defend his throne. The Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg) boxer eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s multiple National Champion Kirill Novosad in the semi-finals and continued the winning path against his younger compatriot Ardak Alimkhan in the gold medal bout.

Winners in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Memorial Tournament

Women’s 51 kg: Zhansaya Zhumagali, Kazakhstan
Women’s 60 kg: Ayzhan Khodzhabekova, Kazakhstan
Women’s 75 kg: Violetta Knyazeva, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 49 kg: Evgeny Pavlov, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 52 kg: Baktiyar Smagulov, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 56 kg: Ergazy Kuanyshbek, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 60 kg: Berik Dzhedibayev, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 64 kg: Aybol Zhambirbay, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 69 kg: Marlen Alpamysh, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 75 kg: Aman Kazangapov, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 81 kg: Nurzhan Nurabayev, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth 91 kg: Yerasyl Ziyada, Kazakhstan
Men’s Youth +91 kg: Kuanysh Bakyt, Kazakhstan