Children of Asia Games – Semi-finals report

Kazakhstan is the most successful after the semi-finals of the Children of Asia Games

The Children of Asia Games continued with the men’s semi-finals in the city of Yakutsk, Russia today 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.
Kazakhstan’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup silver medallist Nursultan Nuridenov, who won several smaller international competitions this year, was too smart for Kyrgyzstan’s Muso Teshebayev in the previous round and continued his winning path against Russia’s Albert Niyazov winning the bout by split decision. 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 but he was defeated by Azerbaijan’s Shirhan Malikov in the last four.
Kazakhstan’s super talented and youngest team member Zheksen Beybarys advanced to the last four in Yakutsk where he could win his difficult contest against Kyrgyzstan’s Dastanbek Ormonov on their re-match. Kazakhstan’s 15-year-old young talent will be boxing for the gold medal with Russia’s Ivan Alekseyev who had a close victory over South Korea’s Lee Soo Min in the second semi-final of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) in Yakutsk.
South Korea’s Junior National Sports Festival winner Choe Do Hyeon stopped Bhutan’s Leki Wangchuk in the same category and advanced to the semi-finals where he has done great job against Russia’s Artem Podkovin in Yakutsk. The South Korean boxer will be meeting for the gold medal with Russia’s Denis Nekhayev who surprisingly eliminated Kazakhstan’s defending ASBC Asian Junior Champion and AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Aibek Dosanov in the second semi-final of the Flyweight class (50 kg).
Kazakhstan’s Alibek Zharkynbek was silver medallist in their Junior National Championships but received the right to box in the Children of Asia Games in Yakutsk. The 16-year-old Light Bantamweight class (52 kg) boxer eliminated Iraq’s new sensation Hayder Al-Nuetra in the semi-final and will now meet with Russia’s Petr Egorov who eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s Junior National Champion Sanjar Seidakmatov in a narrow fight.
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 (54 kg) and continued his winning path against the host region’s Aikaar Olesov. His final opponent will be Kazakhstan’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup silver medallist Sunkar Taldybek who was too strong for Russia’s Yuriy Medvedev in Yakutsk.
Kyrgyzstan’s Dildabekov Prizes Junior Tournament silver medallist Ilgiz Matmusayev is also an experienced boxer in the junior age group and he could dominate his bout against Russia’s Akhmadshokh Makhmadshoyev in the quarter-final while the young Central Asian hope was able to beat also Elmar Omarov who trains in the Sakha region. Turkmenistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Arslan Shamyradov was amazing in the previous rounds and had a hectic contest against Russia’s Sergey Klyuyev. The final verdict was split decision for the Russian therefore Turkmenistan’s No.1 achieved bronze medal in Yakutsk.
Kazakhstan’s Junior National Champion Yermakhan Zhakpekov secured a further place for Asia’s leading boxing nation in the final following his success over Sakha region’s Ayan Ksenofontov in the semi-final at the Light Welterweight class (63 kg). South Korea’s Han Sung Yun was also in the last four but he suffered a loss to Russia’s Yakov Makushev today and took bronze medal.
Kazakhstan’s Junior National Champion Ayat Marzhikpayev came from a boxing family as all of his brothers are boxers in the national level. He eliminated Russia’s Innokentiy Grigoryev in the quarter-final and continued the winning series against South Korea’s new flag bearer Mo Gun Woo in the semi-final of the Welterweight class (66 kg). The 16-year-old boxer will be facing with Russia’s Ilya Meleshin for the gold tomorrow.
Iraq’s second semi-finalist in the Children of Asia Games was Saleem Sajjad who eliminated Russia’s Daniil Bridov at the Light Middleweight class (70 kg) in the previous round and did another surprise in the competition. His next opponent was Kyrgyzstan’s Sulaiman Suyunbek Uulu and he was able to find the best fighting distance in their contest. Iraq’s sensation will be boxing for the gold medal with Russia’s Ilya Bogatirev who eliminated Kazakhstan’s gold medal favourite Beken Pernekhan in a narrow contest.
Kazakhstan’s Sagyndyk Toganbay boxed for a place in the final of the Middleweight class (75 kg) which he has done following his triumph over Russia’s Magamed Mirzoyev. The Junior National Champion of Kazakhstan will now meet for the title bout with Russia’s Nikita Chirvon who eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s Junior National Champion Urmat Bektursunov in the second semi-final.
Kazakhstan’s top junior boxer Damir Toybay stopped his opponent in the quarter-final and he was able to repeat that performance in the last four. The 16-year-old Heavyweight class (+80 kg) boxer knocked down Russia’s Yuriy Izyumov in the semi-final and he needs only one further step to win the category in Yakutsk. His final opponent will be Russia’s Kirill Basalayev who stopped South Korea’s Junior National Sports Festival winner Lee Ji Hoon in the last four.