Children of Asia Games – Quarter-finals

Iraq wins guaranteed medals in the Children of Asia Games after the quarter-finals in Yakutsk

The next big Asian boxing competition the Children of Asia Games began in the city of Yakutsk in the recent days where the continent’s best junior boxers can meet each other to decide the medals in 18 different weight classes. The junior men boxers can compete in 13 divisions while the girls can box in 5 categories in Yakutsk.
The Children of Asia Games is a multisport event to promote Asia’s sport and culture among the young 14-17-year-old future hopes. The capital of the Sakha region in the Russian Federation Yakutsk has been hosting the events every four years and the next edition is already turns to the final countdown as only a few days are to go the start of the Games.
The first edition was held in Yakutsk in 1996 and organized by the first President of the Sakha Republic Mikhail Nikolayev to commemorate the Centennial of the modern Olympic Games. The 2016 edition is holding again in Yakutsk between 5-17 July and boxing is always on the official program. At the very first time the talented girls also can take part in the boxing tournament of the Children of Asia Games. Yemen sent boxers to the Children of Asia Games at the very first time in the history of the multisport event.
Kazakhstan’s Diana Keilman eliminated Mongolia’s Balson Mengonsaran in the semi-final of the Women’s Flyweight class (50 kg) and will be boxing for the gold medal with Russia’s Michilina Santayeva on July 13. She is the second Kazakh woman finalist after Anar Kozha who secured her place in the final of the Pinweight class (46 kg).
Mongolia’s best woman junior boxer Ochirsukh Enkhmaa delivered a small sensation in Yakutsk when she defeated Russia’s Kseniya Beschastnova in the semi-final of the Light Bantamweight class (52 kg) and will be facing for the gold with Kazakhstan’s Erkezhan Dauletzhankyzy who eliminated the host region’s Ayna Borisova. Tajikistan’s Idimokh Kholova was great in the Women’s Featherweight class (57 kg) and in spite of her narrow loss in the semi-final she proved she is a great prospect in the future.
South Korea’s Junior National Sports Festival winner Kim Chal Ri was amazing in the quarter-final of the Men’s Pinweight class (46 kg) against Philippines’ Junior National Games winner James Ian Solis. In the same category Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nuridenov, who won several international competitions this year, was too smart for Kyrgyzstan’s Muso Teshebayev and also advanced to the semi-finals.
South Korea’s Lee Soo Min had a great battle against Yemen’s Kornas Chelib in the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) in Yakutsk where Kyrgyzstan’s strong favourite Dastanbek Ormonov eliminated Turkmenistan’s Kasym Cherkezov and Russia’s Artem Kolpakov in the previous rounds. Kazakhstan’s super talented and youngest team member Zheksen Beybarys also advanced to the last four in Yakutsk.
Kazakhstan’s defending ASBC Asian Junior Champion and AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Aibek Dosanov moved up to the Flyweight class (50 kg) this year and proved his great technical skills against Mongolia’s Bat-Ulzii Batmonkh. South Korea’s Choe Do Hyeon stopped Bhutan’s Leki Wangchuk in the same category and advanced to the semi-finals.
Iraq’s new sensation Hayder Al-Nuetra did enough to beat Russia’s favourite Anatoliy Timofeyev who lives and trains in the Sakha region. Kyrgyzstan’s Junior National Champion Sanjar Seidakmatov was amazing against Russia’s Arsen Gadzhiyev at the Light Bantamweight class (52 kg) and joined to the bests. Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Djamshedjon Gafurov was eliminated by Russia’s Petr Egorov in a hectic contest but he was great in the bout.
Philippines’ best junior boxer Cristian Pitt Laurente returned to the international level after his successes in 2015 and did not give any chance to Russia’s Arseniy Arseniyev in the quarter-final of the Bantamweight class (57 kg). Kazakhstan’s Sunkar Taldybek had enough experiences in the international competitions to beat Russia’s Filipp Pakulov in Yakutsk.
Turkmenistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Arslan Shamyradov is the best boxer of his nation in this age group. The Featherweight class (57 kg) boxer dominated his bout over South Korea’s Choi Seung Min and advanced to the last four. Kyrgyzstan’s Ilgiz Matmusayev is also an experienced boxer in the junior age group and he could dominate his bout against Russia’s Akhmadshokh Makhmadshoyev.
Kazakhstan’s Junior National Champion Yermakhan Zhakpekov secured a further place for Asia’s leading boxing nation in the semi-final following his success over Russia’s Andrey Zaplava at the Light Welterweight class (63 kg) where South Korea’s Han Sung Yun was too strong for Kyrgyzstan’s Saparbek Kadyrbekov.
Kazakhstan’s Ayat Marzhikpayev came from a boxing family and his genetically strong background was enough to beat Russia’s Innokentiy Grigoryev in Yakutsk. Kazakhstan’s junior pride will be meeting in the semi-final with South Korea’s Mo Gun Woo who eliminated Russia’s Vladimir Pilevin at the Welterweight class (66 kg).
Iraq’s second semi-finalist in the Children of Asia Games is Saleem Sajjad who eliminated Russia’s Daniil Bridov at the Light Middleweight class (70 kg) where his next opponent will be Kyrgyzstan’s Sulaiman Suyunbek Uulu. The Central Asian boxer was too strong for the host region’s Roman Shevchenko while Kazakhstan’s gold medal favourite Beken Pernekhan is also in the last four in Yakutsk.
Kyrgyzstan’s Junior National Champion Urmat Bektursunov was great in the quarter-final against South Korea’s Junior National Sports Festival winner Hyun Kyung Seok and will now meet with Russia’s Nikita Chirvon in the last four in Yakutsk where Kazakhstan’s Sagyndyk Toganbay also can box for a place in the final of the Middleweight class (75 kg).
South Korea’s Junior National Sports Festival winner Lee Ji Hoon knocked down Russia’s Anton Ashuk in the third round twice and the referee confirmed his TKO success which was a small surprise in the Heavyweight class (+80 kg). Kazakhstan’s top junior boxer Damir Toybay also stopped his opponent in the quarter-final and he is on the best way to win the difficult category in the Children of Asia Games.