Jordan’s Obada Al-Kasbeh was the hero of the first day of the quarter-finals at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships

The first 34 medals were decided in the fourth competition day of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok today. Fourteen nations are advanced to the semi-finals in Bangkok where Jordan’s Obada Al-Kasbeh bowed out the Uzbek favourite at the men’s light welterweight (64kg).
The new edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships has set up new records both in the number of the entering boxers and also in the number of the participating countries in Bangkok. Altogether 304 athletes including 112 women and 192 men boxers will be attending in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships from tomorrow.
The following 34 nations are attending in Bangkok: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

Kazakhstan’s Temirtas Zhussupov and Uzbekistan’s Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov are the first medallists in Bangkok
The first medal of the whole ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships was achieved by Kazakhstan’s Temirtas Zhussupov who won the title in the event in Amman six years ago. The WSB Team Champion Kazakh boxer defeated Philippines’ Ramel Macado in a hectic contest and advanced to the semi-finals. In the Ring B Uzbekistan’s Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov had to do his very best to beat Laos’ No.1 Khamsathone Khamphouvanh who showed tough development in the event.

Kyrgyzstan’s first medal was taken by Mirlan Turkbay Uulu
Kyrgyzstan’s Mirlan Turkbay Uulu joined to the international events in 2010 at the age of 20 and moved ahead in the rankings step by step. Following his difficulties and losing his membership in the national squad, he worked even harder in the gym to reach the level of the top Asian opponents. Turkbay Uulu used his counter-attacking style against Indonesia’s Cornelis Kwangu Langu and his tactic paid off in Bangkok. His career is the good exemplar to never give up and claimed his career highlight with the guaranteed bronze medal.

World class and tight battles in the men’s bantamweight (56kg)
Kazakhstan’s Kairat Yeraliyev is the reigning AIBA World Champion at the men’s bantamweight (56kg) but he suffered a surprise loss in the quarter-finals of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. India’s Kavinder Singh Bisht won the strong Gee Bee Tournament in Helsinki and after that success he eliminated the Kazakh star in Bangkok. Following their tight contest Uzbekistan’s Jakarta 2018 Asian Games winner Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov eliminated Thailand’s ASBC Asian Champion experienced Chatchai Butdee in another world class bout.

India’s Sonia Chahal defeated her North Korean rival once again on their re-match
India’s Sonia Chahal defeated DPR Korea’s Jo Son Hwa in the semi-final of the New Delhi 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and the two boxers had to meet once again in the quarter-finals in Bangkok. The Indian featherweight (57kg) boxer used her longer reach to keep the safest distance in their contest which was another spectacular one in Thailand’s capital. The taller Indian had warm moments in the bout but finally she was able to handle all tactical issues to get a guaranteed medal in Bangkok.

Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin won her quarter-final with high confidence
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the age of 19 and won the title of the welterweight (69kg) at the New Delhi 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Chen has got all the technical skills to achieve her first Asian title in Bangkok and has done her first step in the event where she controlled all of the rounds against India’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain who was also born in 1997 as Chen.
“My Indian rival was not an easy one in the quarter-finals of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. She is tall and getting better every day so I had to do my best to moved her closer and won this tough fight,” said Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin after the contest in Bangkok.

China’s female boxing power shined on Day4
China’s two-time AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Gu Hong was slightly better than DPR Korea’s Kim Jin Son and advanced to the semi-finals of the welterweight (69kg). China’s second success was achieved by AIBA Women’s World Champion 22-year-old Wang Lina who won her quarter-final at the light heavyweight (81kg) unanimously against Uzbekistan’s promising Ezozakhon Melieva. Their three-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Yang Xiaoli started also strongly against India’s experienced Seema Poonia and marched into the last four.

The first bouts of the evening session were won by South Korea’s Kim In Kyu and China’s Hu Jianguan
China’s best male boxer Hu Jianguan claimed bronze medals in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and also in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships. Hu was too quick for DPR Korea’s O Tae Bom in the semi-finals of the men’s flyweight (52kg) today which means he is now a guaranteed medallist. Another top boxer Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kim In Kyu of South Korea had to meet with Kyrgyzstan’s Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev who did not lose any contests since last August. The Korean boxer exceeded all of the previous expectations and eliminated his favourite rival in Bangkok.

Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov lost to India’s Amit Panghal once again after the finals of the Asian Games
Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner Hasanboy Dusmatov is two-time ASBC Asian Champion eliminated Bhutan’s Tenzin Drugyel in the last 16 and he had to meet with India’s Amit Panghal in a top re-match. The Indian boxer defeated Dusmatov in the final of the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and since then both stars moved up to the flyweight (52kg). The Uzbek boxer moved ahead from the first seconds and dictated the tempo but his Indian opponent’s counter-attacks were successful. The final verdict was split decision to Amit Panghal who defeated his Uzbek rival once again within eight months.

Jordan’s Obada Al-Kasbeh defeated his top Uzbek rival on Day4
Jordan’s Obada Al-Kasbeh claimed bronze medal at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games and qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. In the current Olympic era he did not reach such strong results yet but he arrived in superb form to the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. Al-Kasbeh had to meet with Uzbekistan’s Jakarta 2018 Asian Games silver medallist Shunkor Abdurasulov who moved up to the light welterweight (64kg) in the recent months. Jordan’s No.1 had the strong motivation to beat his Uzbek rival and he has done his best ever performance in the fourth competition day in Bangkok. Al-Kasbeh mobilized all of his remaining power in the last round and eliminated his tough rival in Bangkok.

Asia proved its strength at the women’s light flyweight (48kg)
Chinese Taipei’s Pin Meng Chieh is the most experienced boxer in their team who was quarter-finalist already in the Jeju 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Pin had to face with Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi and her energetic boxing style delivered for her a medal in Bangkok. DPR Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi dominated her fight against Laos’ Daomayuly Chanthilath but her Southeast Asian opponent was able to box until the end of the last gong. Philippines’ former AIBA Women’s World Champion Josie Gabuco was slightly better than Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkybekova and proved that she is still strong enough to beat top opponents.

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