Review of the last edition of the Penang Pesta International Youth & Elite Tournament

The Penang Pesta International Tournament was held for the male youth and elite boxers in Malaysia one year ago. Penang-based Pavithran Al Rajini Kanth and Chinese Taipei’s Hu Wei Lun impressed in the youth part of the international event. Singapore’s Muhamad Hafiz Bin Ahmad and Indonesia’s experienced Saroha Tua Lumbantobing also proved their developments in the elite part of the Penang Pesta International Tournament.

The event delivered wonderful bouts and altogether 18 champions have been crowned in the competition which was Malaysia’s last boxing highlight. Malaysia’s main international boxing tournament has a strong tradition and a good brand name in the South and Southeast Asian regions. The gold medals have been shared between Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong.

The first title of the whole competition was achieved by ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships competitor Pavithran Al Rajini Kanth of Malaysia who defeated Paramesivan Al Ilango in the final of the youth light flyweight (49kg). The 17-year-old Penang-based boxer impressed in the event and continued his winning path in the international stage.

Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum Bin Ariffin achieved Malaysia’s second gold medal in the youth part of the Penang Pesta International Tournament. Hu Wei Lun is Chinese Taipei’s new hope who received the right to compete at the Malaysian international event. The bantamweight (56kg) teenager controlled all of the rounds against Hong Kong’s Lam Kin Ho in the third final of the competition.

Mohamed Ridzuan Bin Johari of Perak had a tough final against Johor’s Muhammad Haizad Haiqal but following the tough two rounds, he managed to win the third clearly and took the title of the youth lightweight (60kg). Malaysia’s duo Azib Zafran Bin Mohamed Rizal and Muhammad Haziq Bin Mohamed Rizal amazed in the next two finals proving their developments in all aspects of boxing.

The Indonesians claimed gold medals also among the youth boxers where Bintang Aries Tanto and Muhammad Ikmal controlled their finals in Penang. Frans Rosevel is an Indonesian elite hope who represented the island of Sumatera in Penang and defeated Malaysia’s Tuan Nasyafie Bin Tuan Ruzuki at the light flyweight (49kg). Indonesia’s ASBC Asian Boxing Championships competitor Saroha Tua Lumbantobing was too strong for his opponents including Singapore’s Velvan Tan Jun Jie in the final.

Muhamad Hafiz Bin Ahmad is Singapore’s talent who had a strong performance against Malaysia’s teenage talent Yuvant Mitadevar in the final of the bantamweight (56kg) and earned an important gold medal in Penang. Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Jun was the favourite of the elite lightweight (60kg) and he realized his golden dreams against another Malaysian teenage hope, Amirul Hakim Bin Sakila.

Hong Kong’s Yuen Man Chun delivered his best ever performances in the event, stopped Malaysia’s Ain Bin Kamaruddin in the final of the light welterweight (64kg). Chinese Taipei’s Lee Sheng Ta had strong national results and continued his winning path against Singapore’s Muhammad Danish Bin Husli in the final of the middleweight (75kg).

The next Penang Pesta International Tournament will be held in December 2021 according to the plans of the Malaysian Boxing Federation and the Penang Boxing Association.

List of the winners in the Penang Pesta International Tournament
Youth 49kg: Pavithran Al Rajini Kanth, Malaysia
Youth 52kg: Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum Bin Ariffin, Malaysia
Youth 56kg: Hu Wei Lun, Chinese Taipei
Youth 60kg: Mohamed Ridzuan Bin Johari, Malaysia
Youth 64kg: Azib Zafran Bin Mohamed Rizal, Malaysia
Youth 69kg: Muhammad Haziq Bin Mohamed Rizal, Malaysia
Youth 75kg: Bintang Aries Tanto, Indonesia
Youth 81kg: Muhammad Ikmal, Indonesia
Youth 91kg: Amir Afnan Bin Azani, Malaysia
Elite 49kg: Frans Rosevel, Indonesia
Elite 52kg: Norsharol Nizam Bin Nor Sukeri, Malaysia
Elite 56kg: Muhamad Hafiz Bin Ahmad, Singapore
Elite 60kg: Lin Yu Jun, Chinese Taipei
Elite 64kg: Yuen Man Chun, Hong Kong
Elite 69kg: Saroha Tua Lumbantobing, Indonesia
Elite 75kg: Lee Sheng Ta, Chinese Taipei
Elite 81kg: Wan Muhammad Haniff Bin Wan Zahalan, Malaysia
Elite 91kg: Indran Al Rama, Malaysia

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