Stars as Huang, Marcial, Jalolov, Namiki and Kunkabayev are medallists in the Tokyo Olympic Games

The ninth day of boxing delivered five further medals for the Asian continent at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiao Wen, Philippines’ Eumir Felix Marcial, Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov, Japan’s Tsukimi Namiki and Kazakhstan’s Kamshybek Kunkabayev bagged medals today.

Boxers at the women’s flyweight (51kg), men’s featherweight (57kg), men’s welterweight (69kg), men’s middleweight (75kg), men’s light heavyweight (81kg) and the men’s super heavyweight (+91kg) were in action today.

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.

Huang Hsiao Wen is Chinese Taipei’s first ever boxing medallist

Chinese Taipei lost their two stars, the AIBA Women’s World Champions, Lin Yu Ting (57kg) and Chen Nien Chin (69kg) during the preliminaries and quarter-finals. Their last remaining boxer was also AIBA Women’s World Champion in the Olympic cycle, Huang Hsiao Wen who moved down to the flyweight (51kg) to qualify for Tokyo. Huang had an unexpected Serbian opponent in the quarter-finals, Nina Radovanovic who won two contests in Tokyo. Huang is nearly 20cm taller than her Serbian rival therefore she used counter-attacks and kept Radovanovic on long. The Serbian is a brave boxer, moved ahead without any stoppage but Huang’s technical skills were too much for her. Huang Hsiao Wen is Chinese Taipei’s first ever boxer who claimed an Olympic medal.

Philippines’ second medallist is Eumir Felix Marcial following his KO success

Philippines’ first medal was taken by AIBA Women’s World Champion Nesthy Petecio who not only advanced to the semi-finals but she is a finalist already at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Her teammate, their male No.1, Eumir Felix Marcial met with Armenia’s Arman Darchinyan in the quarter-finals of the men’s middleweight (75kg) to get the medal. The AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Filipino was highly confident from the first seconds and following his combinations, the Armenian has been counted by the Colombian referee. Darchinyan increased his risk factor, moved ahead and Marcial finished their contest after 131 seconds with a KO victory.

Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov is semi-finalist in Tokyo

The Uzbeks lost a few big names in the preliminaries and in the quarter-finals but Day8 was strong for them. Their super heavyweight (+91kg) star, the defending AIBA World Champion Bakhodir Jalolov did not underestimate India’s Satish Kumar in the quarter-finals. Jalolov, who is unbeaten since August 2017, controlled the first round against the Indian and used his powerful jabs to stop Kumar. Jalolov controlled all of the three rounds and marched into the semi-finals of the king weight class. The 202cm tall Uzbek was too strong for the Indian veteran therefore Jalolov advanced to the semi-finals and claimed his first Olympic medal.

Japan’s second medallist in the Games is Tsukimi Namiki

Japan’s first guaranteed medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games was captured by Sena Irie at the women’s featherweight (57kg) and she also advanced to the final of the category. Her teammate, the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Tsukimi Namiki is one of the gold medal favourites of the flyweight (51kg) and she had the full concentration against Colombia’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Ingrit Valencia to take the medal on home soil. The Colombian eliminated India’s legend Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte in the last 16 but she felt herself uncomfortable against the quick Japanese. Namiki jumped into the best fighting distance and decided their contest with her speed advantage.

Kazakhstan’s first medallist is Kamshybek Kunkabayev

Kazakhstan lost their top boxers in the previous days including AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Abilkhan Amankul today. Their super heavyweight (+91kg) hope, Kamshybek Kunkabayev met with Russian Olympic Committee’s Ivan Veriasov in the quarter-finals which was the last bout of the evening session. The Kazakh boxer started the bout better, and took the lead on the scorecards using his jabs to catch the Russian. Veriasov was competitive only in the third round therefore Kunkabayev claimed Kazakhstan’s first boxing medal in Tokyo.

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