Saudi Arabian National Championships

Oqaz was the best team in the Saudi Arabian National Championships

The Saudi Arabian National Championships was held in their capital city in Riyadh where their best boxers met to fight for the titles. Nine new champions have been crowned, only Baker Salem Al-Oumeri was able to defend his title in the competition but some of their veterans returned to the sport and claimed gold in the event.
Saudi Arabia hosted the region’s top boxing event, the important Gulf Countries Tournament in April in Riyadh where their new management proved the direction of the country’s boxing life is on the best way to the further successes. Saudi Arabia claimed five gold medals in the Gulf Countries Tournament in the front of the home crowd which was record from the developing boxing country.
Team Oqaz claimed five gold medals in the Saudi Arabian National Championships and topped the team rankings in the competition after their great performance in the Youth National Championships. Talented young Fares Khudir Sharif never wins any national competition yet but the young hope was able to win the first gold medal of the Saudi Arabian National Championships after beating Mazen Ali Qahas in the final of the Light Flyweight class (49 kg).
Ali Al-Jassas won the gold medal at the Flyweight class (52 kg) in the Gulf Countries Tournament but had to miss the competition where Fawaz Al-Harbi defeated Moutaab Al-Dosari in the final of the event. Samer Humaidi won gold medal at the Gulf Countries Tournament and competed in several other international competitions during his career therefore his success over Fahid Jaimal was not a surprise.
Saleh Asiri won the gold medal at the Lightweight class (60 kg) following his triumph over Nawaf Khilifi in the final of the event. Newcomer Yahya Al-Aizi defeated Adel Hadi in the gold medal bout of the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) which was the boxer’s first success during his career.
Hasan Al-Aziz did not compete in the last edition of the Saudi Arabian National Championships but he was too strong for Mohamed Saleh Al-Zouman in the gold medal bout of the Welterweight class (69 kg). Ahmed Jaber Al-Faifi competed in the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan and had huge experiences from regional events as well. The national team member Middleweight class (75 kg) boxer was only silver medallist in the last edition but this time he could beat Mohamed Al-Arishi in the final of the category and regained his throne in Saudi Arabia.
Salem Ahmed Al-Faqihi claimed silver medal in the last edition of the Saudi Arabian National Championships but his efforts were enough to do it better in the new event. The experienced boxer triumphed over Sultan Magribi in the final of the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) and also returned to the throne as Ahmed Jaber Al-Faifi.
Strong Baker Salem Al-Oumeri defended his gold medal position at the Heavyweight class (91 kg) after his final success in 2015. Turki Subyani is member of the national team since 2007 and since then he raised his experiences in several international competitions therefore his punches were lethal against Sabian Al-Shihrani in the final of the Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg) in the event.

Winners in the Saudi Arabian National Championships

49 kg: Fares Khudir Sharif
52 kg: Fawaz Al-Harbi
56 kg: Samer Humaidi
60 kg: Saleh Asiri
64 kg: Yahya Al-Aizi
69 kg: Hasan Al-Aziz
75 kg: Ahmed Jaber Al-Faifi
81 kg: Salem Ahmed Al-Faqihi
91 kg: Baker Salem Al-Oumeri
+91 kg: Turki Subyani