Mongolia’s Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu eliminated the titleholder of the 49kg in the Asian Games

Altogether 28 preliminary women and men contests were held in the boxing tournament of the Asian Games in Jakarta today. Mongolia’s Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu is a new face in the national team but he was able to eliminate South Korea’s Shin Jong Hun which means the titleholder did not advance to the last 16.
Altogether 194 boxers from 31 countries are fighting for the 10 gold medals in the boxing event of the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games. China, host Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Mongolia and Thailand are attending with maximum number of 10 boxers in the Asian Games.
Laos’ No.1 Khamphouvanh Khamsathone lost to Nepal’s Tej Bahadur Deuba in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament and the talented boxers had to meet once again this time in the preliminary round of the Asian Games. Khamsathone, who trains with Russian coach Dmitriy Morozov, taught his last lession and he was able to do revenge on their important re-match in Jakarta.
Indonesia’s President’s Cup winner and Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament bronze medallist Mario Blasius Kali opened his campaign for a medal in the Asian Games. The Indonesian light flyweight (49kg) boxer was quicker than Sri Lanka’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Thiwanka Sandaruwan Ranasinghe and secured his place in the last 16 of the Asian Games.
Japan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Tomoya Tsuboi is a 22-year-old light flyweight (49kg) boxer but he is an experienced hope in the international stage. The Japanese boxer was quicker than Bhutan’s South Asian Games competitor Tashi Wangdi and won the bout by unanimous decision.
Chinese Taipei’s Tu Po Wei achieved bronze medal in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament which was his last preparation event. The FISU University World Boxing Championships runner-up Tu received punches from Pakistan’s Mohibullah Bacha in the first round and he needed to do more from the second. After the first break Tu relaxed and he was more focused which delivered for him a success in Jakarta.
South Korea’s Shin Jong Hun was the defending champion at the men’s light flyweight (49kg) who is member of the national team since 2008 but he was not enough strong in the opening round against Mongolia’s Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu. Shin moved more on feet in the later part of their contest but the seven-year younger Mongolian was able to keep his advantage until the end of the final gong which means the titleholder was eliminated in the boxing tournament of the Asian Games.
Thailand’s ASBC Asian Champion and AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Chatchai Butdee is a veteran boxer at the men’s bantamweight (56kg) who has impressed in the first round against Timor Leste’s newcomer Elisio Raimundo Gaio in Jakarta. The 33-year-old Thai boxer reduced his tempo in the second round and saved power for the later actions of the Asian Games.
Pakistan’s Naqeebullah was involved to their national team in the recent two years and he attended already in a few international competitions. Pakistan’s bantamweight (56kg) boxer had a few difficulties against United Arab Emirates’ National Champion Majid Al-Naqbi who was a competitive rival for him today. Naqeebullah secured Pakistan’s first triumph in the boxing tournament of the Asian Games.
Jordan’s Asian Games bronze medallist and Rio 2016 Olympian Obada Al-Kasbeh was excellent in the preparation events this year following his team’s training camps. The Jordanian light welterweight (64kg) boxer did not find the best fighting distance against Nepal’s Bhupendra Thapa but from the second he worked more on feet. Thapa, who prepared in Thailand before the Asian Games, was a competitive rival but Jordan’s No.1 was able to eliminate him in a close bout.
Indonesia’s next boxer in action was Libertus Gha who is a newcomer in the men’s light welterweight (64kg). The 23-year-old local hope was involved to the national team only this year but following their Ukrainian training camp he has done great job against Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi in the front of the home crowd. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Gha who made the fans happy following his triumph.
Seventeen boxers are attending at the men’s middleweight (75kg) therefore two boxers had to fight at the Round of 32. Thailand’s Aphisit Kanankhokkhruea claimed bronze medal in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament but he performed much better in the opening round of the category and delivered a small surprise when he eliminated Japan’s Asian Games Test Event winner Yuito Moriwaki.
Tajikistan’s talented Bakhodur Usmonov was silver medallist in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships and he moved ahead step by step in the recent years. The 20-year-old Tajik light welterweight (64kg) boxer knocked down Sri Lanka’s Dushan Dinidu Saparamadu and dominated the fight with his tough combinations. Usmonov landed impressive punches again in the third round therefore the referee confirmed his RSC victory in Jakarta.
Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sudaporn Seesondee was in top form in the preparation events of the Asian Games following she moved down to the lightweight (60kg). The 27-year-old Thai boxer was more experienced than Chinese Taipei’s Ulaanbaatar Box Cup silver medallist Wu Shih Yi which was the lone difference between them. Wu tried to use her longer reach but Seesondee knew how to handle this tactical job and won their close bout by split decision.
Indonesia’s two women boxers have been eliminated in the first competition day and their last remained hope, the youngest one 20-year-old Huswatun Hasanah secured a victory for the host country. The Indonesian lightweight (60kg) boxer was too nervous in the first round against Kyrgyzstan’s Farida Pupova but from the second she found her best rhythm still in time to win their difficult contest.

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