History is in making – Torekhan Sabyrkhan achieved his fourth Asian title in Astana
Kazakhstan’s first ever four-times Asian Champion in the junior and youth age groups is Torekhan Sabyrkhan who defended his welterweight (67kg) title today.
Tajikistan’s Muinkhodzha Muminov and India’s Asian Junior Champion Brijesh Tamta were the first finalists in the ninth competition day in Astana. The Tajik boy attacked from the first seconds and he tried to get the control against the quick Indian who responded from his longer distance. Tamta had the advantage on the scorecards after three minutes therefore Muminov had to change his tactics in the second round. The Tajik gave in everything in the third round but he was not able to turn back this final therefore India achieved the first gold medal.
India’s Aryan and Kyrgyzstan’s Zafarbek Kamilov both eliminated strong rivals during their road to the finals of the men’s flyweight (51kg). The Indian southpaw was taller than the Kyrgyz boy but he moved ahead in this high rhythm final contest. The first round was a fantastic world-class level period and after that the Kyrgyz increased his tempo in the second when he had also good actions. The referees favoured the Indian who exceeded all of the expectations in this contest and he earned the title.
Uzbekistan’s Sobirjon Tastanov faced Kyrgyzstan’s Asian Junior Champion Amantur Dzhumayev in the final of the men’s bantamweight (54kg) which was one of the anticipated contests in Astana. The Uzbek opened the first round better and he had the advantage on the judges’ scorecards but Dzhumayev increased his speed in the second. The final verdict was depended on their performance in the third round when Tastanov had still the power to win this exciting contest.
Jordan’s lone finalist in the championship, Qais Eshish tried to be a hard target for Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Allaberganov in the final of the men’s featherweight (57kg) today. The Uzbek caught the fast Jordanian a few times and he worked from closer distance in the second round therefore he had the advantage before the last period. Allaberganov worked hard in the last round with heavy body shots and right-handed jabs guaranteed his gold medal in Kazakhstan’s capital.
Kazakhstan’s Karagandy-based Aleksey Khavantsev impressed in the entire championship and the 18-year-old talent used his jabs to keep the best distance against India’s Sagar Jakhar at the men’s lightweight (60kg) final. Khavantsev is a new addition in the top youth national team but he had a great first round against the Indian who worked harder in the second. Khavantsev received the right instructions from his coaches, Mr. Arkadiy Topayev and Mr. Kairat Satzhanov, therefore he bagged Kazakhstan’s second-in-a-row title.
India’s Yashwardhan Singh was awarded the Best Boxer Trophy at the 2019 ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships in Kuwait City and he has also five years of international experience as his final opponent, Ruslan Gafurov of Tajikistan. The Indian light welterweight (63.5kg) boxer had a tight advantage on the scorecards after two rounds therefore Gafurov moved ahead in the third without any stoppage to turn back the final but Singh had the routine to manage his next ASBC success.
Kazakhstan’s three-time Asian Champion Torekhan Sabyrkhan is the top star of their youth national team but he had a very difficult welterweight (67kg) final against Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadazizbek Ismoilov. The Uzbek analysed the Kazakh No.1 before the final well enough and he had good shots in the first round to take a tight lead. Sabyrkhan turned up the heat in the beginning of the second round and he delivered a fantastic middle period in this exciting final. Sabyrkhan’s defence was not his best ever today due to Ismoilov’s high competitiveness but his brilliant last round made it clear, he is the first ever four-times Asian Champion among the junior and youth boxers.
Kazakhstan’s Oner Seilkhan is one of the tallest boxers at the men’s youth light middleweight (71kg) who faced for the title with India’s Priyanshu after Sabyrkhan’s fantastic success. The Kazakh stopped the Indian attacks with single jabs in the first round and all of the five judges favoured him 10:9 after three minutes. Priyanshu was not enough quick to catch Seilkhan who had the world-class defensive skills today to win the Asian title of the weight class which was his first during his career.
Kazakhstan’s Asian Junior Champion Sanzhar-Ali Begaliyev found his best youth category, the middleweight (75kg) this year. The 18-year-old Kazakh landed his shots during his movements as well but his opponent, India’s Rahul Kundu also had great jabs in the first round. Begaliyev and Kundu had very similar number of shots in the second round and the judges had hard job to decide the winner of this period. Begaliyev launched a powerful left-handed jab in the third round when the Indian was exhausted which meant that he bagged the next title for Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan’s last chance for a gold medal in Astana, Mukhammadaziz Zakirov opened the first minute with better shots but Kazakhstan’s Madiyar Beksultanov adopted the rhythm in time to win the opener of their light heavyweight (80kg) final. Zakirov landed strong hooks in the second round and he followed his coach, Mr. Marat Shamamatov’s strategy to launch high number of shots. Beksultanov was more fresh and energetic for the last decisive round and the referee had to count Zakirov once before the final gong. The 17-year-old Kazakh had the strong finish to win their contest and Kyrgyzstan achieved only silver medals this time.
Uzbekistan’s Akmaljon Isroilov moved forward in the cruiserweight (86kg) final and he did not let Kazakhstan’s newcomer in the youth national team, Imangali Nurpeis to use his jabs from his best distance. Nurpeis landed only a few good uppercuts in the first round which was dominated by Isroilov’s pressure and his multiple combinations. Isroilov was also better in the second round and the referee counted his Kazakh opponent in the third which guaranteed Uzbekistan’s fifth gold medal in the youth finals.
India’s Aryan was taller than Uzbekistan’s Khalimjon Mamasoliyev in their heavyweight (92kg) title contest but his speed was not enough to avoid the shots of his opponent. Mamasoliyev had the full focus in the first and second rounds in their meeting and he enjoyed the comfortable 20:18 advantage on the scorecards after six minutes. The Uzbek had the confidence in this final contest and his strength was the key for his nation’s sixth gold medal in the youth part of the championship.
Iran’s Amir Esmaeili Vandaei knocked out his semi-final opponent in Astana but he had a more difficult challenge in the final of the super heavyweight (+92kg), Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Polvonov. The taller Iranian landed the stronger shots in the first round and he had the motivation, furthermore the power to keep the control of the final. The Sri Lankan referee counted the Uzbek boxer after Esmaeili’s heavy punch in the second round and he became his nation’s first Asian Youth Champion since 2017.
Don’t forget you can keep up with all of the action, news, results and photos by following ASBC on Facebook and Instagram.
ASBC website: www.asbcnews.org
ASBC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASBC.Boxing/
ASBC Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asbc_official/
ASBC Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BoxingAsian?s=08