Kyrgyzstan’s Akhmadi Arvaz and Tajikistan’s Biloldzhon Iksanov are among the junior finalists in Al Ain

Next to the superpowers, Kyrgyzstan’s Akhmadi Arvaz and Tajikistan’s Biloldzhon Iksanov also advanced to the men’s junior finals in Al Ain during the busy evening session.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, 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.

Uzbekistan’s Children of Asia Games silver medallist Khikmatillo Sobirov tried to catch Iran’s Mahdi Rouzbahani in the first round with heavy jabs but his opponent had excellent counter-shots. The Uzbek moved forward, he looked confident in this contest but Rouzbahani’s counter-punches and long distance tactics paid off today. The Iranian marched to the final of the pinweight (46kg) where he will be boxing for the title with Ukraine’s Serhii Artemenko, another surprise winner of today.

Uzbekistan’s Children of Asia Games winner Elyor Rustamov ruled the middle of the ring in the first round against Ukraine’s Davyd Molodan and he took the advantage on the judges’ scorecards after two minutes. The Uzbek light flyweight (48kg) boxer was also confident as Sobirov but in comparison to his teammate, he landed enough shots to beat his opponent who came from a boxing family. Rustamov’s final opponent will be Iran’s Sahand Najafi who eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s Umar Orusbayev unanimously.

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Malakhov won the European Schoolboys Championships in 2023 and the 15-year-old boxer was competitive for Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadrizo Ukimov, one of their stars. The Uzbek flyweight (50kg) boxer found the best weapon against his younger Ukrainian rival and he controlled most of the exchanges today. Turkmenistan’s Begench Kakamyradov was brave and he performed well against India’s Harsh but his rival will be able to box against Ukimov for the gold.

Tajikistan’s Biloldzhon Iksanov choose a long distance strategy against Kyrgyzstan’s second junior semi-finalist, Abdulkhak Sadikov today. The 16-year-old Tajik danced through the whole are of the ring in their semi-final and his Kyrgyz opponent hardly could reach him due to Iksanov’s speed. The Tajik moved to the right direction, stepped back and landed his left-handed uppercuts effectively to win the whole contest against a top Kyrgyz therefore Iksanov will face with Uzbekistan’s Ibrokhim Shokirjonov for the bantamweight (54kg) title.

Uzbekistan’s Children of Asia Games winner Jakhongir Zaynidinov has amazing technical skills and he boxed like an elite pugilist in the whole championships. The 16-year-old Uzbek used his tricky style of boxing against India’s Shivam and his extraordinary performance made it clear, that he will be the first finalist at the featherweight (57kg). Zaynidinov will be facing with Kyrgyzstan’s lone junior finalist in Al Ain, Kutmanbiy Muratov who made a great finish to beat Tajikistan’s Abubakr Azizov.

Uzbekistan’s next ace in action was Saidkhuja Sadillakhujayev who used his amazing rhythm to find the best angles against Iran’s Mohammad Safar Beiranvand at the lightweight (60kg). His teammate, Khikmatullo Sobirov lost to an Iranian boxer earlier in the evening session but Sadillakhujayev kept the full focus on his fight to join the finals. The outstanding Uzbek will be boxing for the title with India’s Sahil Duhan who had a tough bout against Kazakhstan’s Akzhurek Kalabay.

Iraq’s lone medallist in Al Ain, Yousif Saad Muhey Addin proved that he is a real fighter and used close distance tactics against Iran’s Ashkan Hashemi in their light welterweight (63kg) semi-final. The Iranian boxer landed huge number of uppercuts in the second round and he controlled the third as well to beat his neighbouring rival. Uzbekistan’s impressive Sukhrob Rakhmatullayev eliminated the youngest junior competitor in Al Ain, Tajikistan’s Umarjon Asrorov in the second semi-final.

Kyrgyzstan’s Children of Asia Games winner Akhmadi Arvaz was member of their junior national team already in 2023 therefore he had the routine to handle Iran’s Amirmohammad Rostampour in their welterweight (66kg) semi-final. The 16-year-old Kyrgyz was stronger than his Iranian opponent which factor became the decisive between them therefore Arvaz will now meet for the title Uzbekistan’s Jasurbek Usmonjonov.

Iran’s Mohammad Saleh Mesbahi Rouzbahani impressed once again with his superb style of boxing and he eliminated his next rival, India’s Prashant therefore he will be boxing for his second Asian title against Uzbekistan’s Diyorbek Murodilloyev at the light middleweight (70kg) on Monday. Kazakhstan’s unbeaten boxer in 2024, Timur Taybekov and Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Abdusamadov marched to the finals of the strong middleweight (75kg).

In one of the most anticipated contests of the evening session was held between Uzbekistan’s Islam Salikhov and Kazakhstan’s Vladislav Samozhonov and the first won their exciting battle. Qatar’s historic medallist Faris Ali Al-Thani had only three contests before his semi-final but was able to compete until the last seconds against a well-experienced Ukrainian, Volodymyr Derkach.

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