Southeast Asian Games – Day1 Report

06 June, 2015

Surprises in the opening day of the SEA Games

One of the most important multisport event of our continent the Southeast Asian Games began with its boxing tournament in Singapore. Seventeen bouts have been held in the opening competition day in the Southeast Asian Games where 85 boxers are fighting for the medals. Vietnam’s promising hope Le Thi Bang defeated Thailand’s star Peamwilai Laopeam while Indonesia’s Christina Marwan Jembay eliminated Vietnam’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Vuong Thi Vy which where the main surprises on Day1.

Women’s Light Flyweight class (48 kg):

Philippines’ Josie Gabuco was AIBA Women’s World Champion in Qinhuangdao in 2012 but following that event she lost her opening bout in the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, Korea. The 28-year-old Filipino boxer proved top quality of boxing this time in Singapore and advanced to the semi-finals in the Southeast Asian Games. She had excellent attacks in the second round against Indonesia’s top woman boxer Beatrix Sugoro who was quarter-finalist in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju. Her Indonesian rival was able to do her best in the fourth round but her efforts were not enough to turn back the battle. Vietnam’s Le Thi Ngoc Anh defeated Malaysia’s lone woman boxer in Singapore Lee Ai Jin while Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Chuthamat Raksat opened with a clear triumph against Myanmar’s Nally Bawy Nei Sin who trains in the city of Mandalay.

Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg):

Philippines’ Irish Magno has been involved to their national squad in 2012 when she took a gold medal in the Taipei City Cup. The 24-year-old boxer is the best Filipino athlete in the Olympic weight class and did one of her best ever performance in the quarter-finals of the Southeast Asian Games. Magno controlled all of the rounds against Indonesia’s Novita Sinadia and finally her hand was raised. Her main rival Thailand’s three-time SEA Games winner 25-year-old Sopida Satumrum also advanced to the semi-finals after beating Myanmar’s Naing Hnin Moh.

Women’s Bantamweight class (54 kg):

Vietnam’s women boxing life turned to a new are in the recent years and their female squad joined to the level of Thailand and Philippines. Their strong boxer Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Le Thi Bang was not enough shape against Thailand’s Asian Indoor Games winner and multiple SEA Games gold medallist Peamwilai Laopeam in the first round but her ringside changed the tactic. Le Thi Bang kept the distance from the third round and her counter-attacks destroyed Laopeam’s defenses. Vietnam’s new star turned back their bout and eliminated her Thai rival in Singapore where Indonesia’s Ester Kalayukin and Myanmar’s Oo Nwe Ni also advanced to the semi-finals.

Women’s Featherweight class (57 kg):

Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Tassamalee Thongjan did great performance in the President’s Cup in Indonesia in April and arrived to Singapore as a gold medal favourite. She knocked down Cambodia’s best woman boxer Vy Srey Khouch in the final round and dominated all of the fights against her inexperienced rival. Thongjan advanced to the semi-final while Vy Srey Khouch did brave boxing against her world class rival. Indonesia’s Christina Marwan Jembay delivered the main surprise of the opening day of the Southeast Asian Games as she was able to eliminate Vietnam’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Vuong Thi Vy due her excellent final round.

Men’s Flyweight class (52 kg):

Thailand’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Chatchai Butdee and Indonesia’s Julio Bria are boxers who already won the previous editions of the Southeast Asian Games but they had to meet in the first preliminary round in Singapore. The 30-year-old Thai boxer was able to find the best fighting distance in their contest very quickly and won all of the rounds against Indonesia’ No.1. Philippines’ rising hope ASBC Asian Youth Continental Champion Ian Clark Bautista also advanced to the next round following his clear victory over Malaysia’s Muhammad Azuwan Mohamed Nor.

Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg):

Malaysia’s Penang International Tournament winner Arfiqanie Ahmad Anshori is only 19 and joined to the elite level in January but he did great quality of boxing in Singapore. He was bit nervous in the opening round against Laos’ Sisomdet Khamsomboune but the young Malaysian was able to overwhelm his rival in the final three minutes. Thailand’s new star Tanes Ongjunta is unbeaten this year therefore his triumph over Indonesia’s Rafli Langi was not a surprise in Singapore in spite of the fact his opponent is member of the national squad since 2010.