India’s Nikhat Zareen eliminated a star in the quarter-finals of the Istanbul Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament

The quarter-finals were held in the Istanbul Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament in the third competition day in Turkey where several Asian boxers secured their medals following impressive wins in the last eight. India’s Nikhat Zareen impressed in the quarter-finals and eliminated Kazakhstan’s two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay in a hectic bout.

Among the Asian National Federations, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Palestine and Bahrain sent teams to the Istanbul Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament. More than 30 nations are attending in the elite event which is another highlight in the month of March.

India’s Nikhat Zareen earned high number of medals in the international stage since 2011 when she won the AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships. She had tough battles in the recent one and half year with her six-time AIBA Women’s World Champion compatriot, Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte at the flyweight (51kg). Zareen eliminated strong rivals during her road to the quarter-finals where she continued her pathway and defeated Kazakhstan’s two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay. Kazakhstan’s Angelina Lukas also advanced to the semi-finals after beating Poland’s Wiktoria Rogalinska in Istanbul.

Kazakhstan’s featherweight (57kg) National Champion Vladislava Kukhta competes at the lightweight (60kg) currently in Istanbul but she had the speed advantage against Uzbekistan’s 19-year-old Dilfuza Bekova in the quarter-finals. Her teammate, Rimma Volosenko is Kazakhstan’s No.1 at the lightweight (60kg) who also marched into the last four in the international tournament following her success over India’s Parveen. Kazakhstan’s AIBA Women’s World Champion Valentina Khalzova dominated her quarter-final over Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska and she is now a guaranteed medallist at the middleweight (75kg).

Kyrgyzstan’s Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev is the most experienced boxer at the men’s flyweight (52kg) who had a tough rival in the quarter-finals, Turkey’s Batuhan Ciftci who already qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Kyrgyz No.1 knew his Turkish rival and he had a superb strategy against him which worked well from the first minute. Usenaliev was able to keep his level until the final gong and eliminated the Tokyo Olympian Turkish boxer. Kazakhstan’s promising Damir Abdykadyr also bowed out a Turkish boxer, Ibrahim Kurtay in the quarter-finals of this weight class.

India’s Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games winner Gaurav Solanki is a fantastic boxer at the featherweight (57kg) who had a tough contest against Turkey’s Mizan Aykol in the quarter-finals. The Indian overcame his local opponent in the attacks well enough and his hard work delivered for him a place in the semi-finals. Kyrgyzstan’s Akylbek Esenbek Uulu joined to the national team in the end of 2019 but his excellent technical skills were enough to beat Kazakhstan’s WSB boxer Nurbol Kalzhanov.

Kyrgyzstan’s Omurbek Bekzhigit Uulu was quarter-finalist at the Bangkok 2019 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships at the age of 19. Kyrgyzstan’s native talent was involved to the sport only six years ago but his impressive fighting power and stamina delivered for him a medal in the Istanbul Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament. The Kyrgyz middleweight (75kg) boxer caused a surprise with his success over Turkey’s Birol Aygun while Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Ayatulla Takizhanov eliminated Palestine’s Islam Irshaid in the same category.

Kazakhstan had four quarter-finalists at the heavyweight (91kg) and among them two succeeded in this new international tournament. Two-time ASBC Asian Youth Champion Sagyndyk Togambay is 20-year-old and could be one of the next stars of this category. Kazakhstan’s pride controlled his quarter-final against Turkey’s Muhammet Baki Yalcin while his fellow, Abzal Kuttybekov had a sensational win over Azerbaijan’s former Cuban boxer, Osmay Bencomo Torres.

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