Sena Irie and Nesthy Petecio will be decided the title of the women’s featherweight in Tokyo
The eighth competition day of the Tokyo Olympic Games contained semi-finals, quarter-finals and preliminary battles in various weight categories. The first final, the women’s featherweight (57kg) will be held between two Asians, Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio and Japan’s Sena Irie advanced to the title contest.
Boxers at the women’s featherweight (57kg), women’s middleweight (75kg), men’s flyweight (52kg), men’s lightweight (63kg) were in action in the eighth day of boxing. Out of today’s 22 contests, nine were won by the Asian female and male boxers in Tokyo.
Altogether 70 Asian boxers including 26 women and 44 men are able to represent their nations in the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games. The final number of the boxers is 289 in the Games where thirteen champions will be crowned in Tokyo.
Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka shocked China’s favourite Hu Jianguan
Ryomei Tanaka is the last remaining boxer of the male team of the host country but he exceeded all of his previous level and performance in the eighth day of boxing in Tokyo. The 28-year-old Japanese won the Olympic Games Test Event before Rio de Janeiro in 2015 but he was not the favourite against China’s Hu Jianguan. The Chinese boxer claimed bronze medals in all of the major championships including the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but he had difficulties against Tanaka today. Hu tried to move on feet to keep the safest distance but Tanaka caught him with hooks and uppercuts. Following all of the actions, Tanaka celebrated his split decision victory over one of the favourites.
Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov had an easy success in the last 16
Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov is the defending Olympic Games winner at the men’s flyweight (52kg), furthermore he won the last edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships and the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. The 28-year-old Uzbek won his debuting contest in Tokyo, and he was highly confident against Cape Verde’s lone boxer in the Olympic Games, Daniel David Varela De Pina who received a wild card. Zoirov demonstrated his combinations in the first round and from the second he played with his inexperienced African rival to secure his place in the quarter-finals.
Philippines’ Carlo Paalam is the third Asian boxer in the last eight at the flyweight
Philippines’ Carlo Paalam claimed bronze medal in the 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia which was his first career highlight. Following his bronze at the Asian Games and gold at the Southeast Asian Games, he is one of the most developed prospect of the flyweight (52kg). Paalam had to meet with Algeria’s former AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Mohamed Flissi who competes in his third Olympic Games. The veteran Algerian had more than 300 contests during his long career but Paalam’s rhythm was too uncomfortable for him. The eight-years younger Filipino continued his nation’s strong tradition in the smallest weight category and marched to the quarter-finals.
Uzbekistan’s Elnur Abduraimov also marched to the last eight in Tokyo
Following Shakhobidin Zoirov’s success, their lightweight (63kg) boxer, Elnur Abduraimov had to compete in Tokyo on Day8. The 27-year-old Uzbek claimed bronze medal already in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships and he was motivated in all of the Olympic cycle. Abduraimov met with his neighbouring rival, Tajikistan’s Bakhodur Usmonov who bagged gold at the Bangkok 2019 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. The Uzbek had the advantage in strength against the taller Tajik and he used his aggressive attacks to catch Usmonov. Abduraimov controlled the first and second rounds with his physical skills while Usmonov worked better only in the third, too late to win the bout.
Nesthy Petecio eliminated another favourite in Tokyo
Philippines’ 2019 AIBA Women’s World Champion Nesthy Petecio arrived to the Tokyo Olympic Games in one of the best forms which she ever had in the past. The 29-year-old featherweight (57kg) boxer was not the favourite against Chinese Taipei’s seed No.1 Lin Yu Ting in the last 16 but surprisingly she won that difficult contest. Petecio won already three bouts and her next challenge was the semi-final against Italy’s Irma Testa who defeated all of her opponents in the recent two and half years. The taller Italian kept Petecio on long in the first round effectively but the Filipino coaches knew how to handle Testa’s strategy. Petecio has got amazing physical condition and she caught the Italian star with tough hooks tuning back their semi-final. The final verdict was split decision in the favour of Petecio who is the first Asian finalist in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossynov has done revenge against Billal Bennama
Kazakhstan lost some of their top boxers during the road to the quarter-finals but their Saken Bibossynov exceeded all of the expectations and marched into the last eight of the flyweight (52kg). The 24-year-old Kazakh lost in the final of the Cologne Boxing World Cup to Billal Bennama of France but his coaching staff worked on the strategy to surprise the European star. Both boxers claimed bronze medal in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in 2019 but Bennama was the favourite of their re-match. The Kazakh boxer followed the well-built strategy and advanced to the quarter-final after beating one of the favourites.
Li Qian is two-time Olympic medallist
China’s Li Qian achieved bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but since then she won all of her major international championships where she could attend. The AIBA Women’s World Champion and ASBC Asian Champion Li had an Indian opponent, Pooja Rani in the quarter-finals of the middleweight (75kg). The Chinese boxer is technically better than any of her rivals and she used her longer reach against the Indian who claimed gold at the ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships twice. Li Qian controlled all of the three rounds with her height advantage and after Rio, she earned a second Olympic medal but her real target is the gold medal.
Sena Irie is Japan’s new hero
Japan’s Sena Irie is only 21 but she was one of the favourites for the Olympic gold medal besides to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting and Italy’s Irma Testa. Both of her main rivals have been eliminated by Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio in the last 16 and in the semi-finals. Irie boxed smartly in the first round of the semi-final against Great Britain’s Army boxer Karriss Artingstall and jumped in from longer range to land shots. Her European rival was punctual in the second round but Irie worked well enough in the third to win their difficult semi-final bout in Tokyo.
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