History is in making – Faris Ali Al-Thani is Qatar’s first ASBC medallist

Qatar’s Faris Ali Al-Thani is his nation’s first ever medallist in an ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships and the 16-year-old talent made his country proud with that historic boxing result while Iraq also achieved a podium place in Al Ain today.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the participating 26 nations in the event.

The 2008 and 2009 born boxers will be able to compete at the junior age group in Al Ain, UAE. Boxers who were born in 2010 and in 2011 will be eligible to participate in the schoolboys and schoolgirls competition.

Chinese Taipei’s Su Bo Yu used his height advantage well in the first round against Iraq’s Yousif Saad Muhey Addin but his opponent found the rhythm in the second which meant both boxers had to give in all of their energies in the last period. The Iraqi light welterweight (63kg) boxer landed enough shots in the last round to win one of the tightest contests of today and he will now meet Iran’s Ashkan Hashemi in the last four.

Kazakhstan’s Kenessaryamir Marzhikpayev is genetically strong in boxing due to his family background and he tried to gain the control against Tajikistan’s Umarjon Asrorov in their opener. The Kazakh boxer finished the last round with a spectacular uppercut but Asrorov did not give up the fight and he performed better in the second. The Tajik boy, who is the youngest participant among the juniors, amazed in the third round once again and his U-turn delivered for him a medal in Al Ain.

Kyrgyzstan’s southpaw Mukhammadkodir Abdumanabov defeated Uzbekistan’s Sukhrob Rakhmatullayev in the final of the recent Children of Asia Games but they had to meet each other already in the quarter-finals in Al Ain. The Uzbek worked a lot on feet and he prepared for a revenge due to his previous loss and he kept the full concentration to win their repeat contest within a short period of time.

The next Uzbek boxer, Jasurbek Usmonjonov launched two-times more shots than his Indian opponent, Jitesh Sangwan and his strong efforts meant a clear dominance in this welterweight (66kg) quarter-final. Tajikistan’s Sorbon Nuralizoda had a superb finish in the end of the first round against Ukraine’s Dmytro Rudnichenko but the Ukrainian also increased his rhythm in the next period. The Tajik junior boxers are in top shape and Nuralizoda also proved his very best in the third round using his stamina to beat the Ukrainian.

Iran’s Amirmohammad Rostampour was outstanding in the preliminary stage of boxing and the 16-year-old talent opened the first round with massive shots against Mongolia’s Zolbayar Battulga at the welterweight (66kg). Rostampour was dominant in his bout once again and he will now meet Kyrgyzstan’s Children of Asia Games winner Akhmadi Arvaz who defeated Kazakhstan’s Bibarys Ashirbay.

The rivalry between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan continued at the light middleweight (70kg) in the evening session when Diyorbek Murodilloyev and Nurassyl Karymbek met in a hectic bout. The Uzbek, who trains with Mr. Akmal Khasanov, danced through Karymbek in the first and second rounds and he was simply better today therefore Murodilloyev will meet Turkmenistan’s Sapargeldi Nuryagdyyev in the semi-finals.

Iran’s defending Asian Junior Champion, Mohammad Saleh Mesbahi Rouzbahani is their flag bearer in the national team who landed his shots whenever he wanted against Chinese Taipei’s Li Yuan Jun at the light middleweight (70kg). The 16-year-old Iranian was too strong for his opponent from Chinese Taipei and he is on the best way to defend his throne in Al Ain where his next rival will be India’s Prashant.

Kazakhstan’s Children of Asia Games winner Timur Taybekov is not only a top name in their junior squad but he demonstrated his power against Vietnam’s Trinh Hai Anh and his RSC success in the second round was not a surprise. Taybekov will now meet in the semi-finals of the middleweight (75kg) Iran’s Mahan Sajedijablou who eliminated India’s Lokesh winning the bout by 3:2 split decision with a great finish.

Kazakhstan’s next winner in the evening session was Yerubay Turlybay who continued his winning path in the annual events after beating Kyrgyzstan’s Abdumalik Lerov. Ukraine’s Vladyslav Naumenko stopped Nepal’s promising Suryan Baidhya in the second round and he became the next semi-finalists at the light heavyweight (80kg). Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Ergashev won the third quarter-final in this category but he had to keep the full focus until the last seconds against Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Kuang Yao.

Kazakhstan’s unbeaten heavyweight (+80kg) boxer this year, Vladislav Samozhonov had a tough quarter-final opponent, Kyrgyzstan’s Islombek Gulamidinov but he managed to secure his place in the last four. Uzbekistan’s Junior World Champion Islam Salikhov also has strong pedigree as Samozhonov in the previous one year and the 16-year-old promising star was unstoppable for India’s Krish today.  

Qatar sent a delegation with newcomers to the championships but their Faris Ali Al-Thani will take back a historic medal to Doha. The heavyweight (+80kg) boxer followed the instructions of his Cuban coach in all of the three rounds and he bowed out a local boy, United Arab Emirates’ Nahyan Alshebli.

“I was so nervous before this contest as this was only my third in my career and I began boxing only 18 months ago. I am so happy about this result, it is hard to believe it,” said Qatar’s Faris Ali Al-Thani after his historic medal.

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