Tashi Wangdi and Nima Dorji impressed in the historical first Bhutan International Boxing Championships

Bhutan Boxing Federation has arrived to a new milestone in the recent days, after a few years of strong developments from the grassroots. Their first ever International Boxing Championships was held in their capital city in Thimphu which was one of their main goals when their management issued their strategic plans. Bhutan’s best boxers as Tashi Wangdi and Nima Dorji both won their weight classes in this historical event.
Bhutan sent boxers to almost all of the ASBC and AIBA events since 2013 and built up teams in all of the age groups and managing their youngest ones the kids and schoolboys as well. The 1st Bhutan International Boxing Championships was also an important road for their boxers during their preparation to the South Asian Games which will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal on December.
Bhutan’s first woman boxer Tandin Lhamo began her career only in 2016 but she developed rapidly and attended already many international tournaments in several countries. The young Bhutanese had to meet in the final of the women’s light flyweight (48kg) with India’s Jyotika Bist but Lhamo managed her narrow success in the front of the home crowd at the YDF Hall which was the official venue of this international tournament.
Tandin Choden is Bhutan’s second best female boxer who joined to the national team only in the recent months and she needs still a lot of experiences to reach the level of the Asian girls. Bhutan’s lightweight (60kg) boxer delivered a good performance against India’s Vinakshi but her rival was more experienced and defeated Choden in the title contest.
Bhutan’s Tashi Wangdi is member of the national team since 2014 but he has done a big breakthrough in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament this July where he defeated a top Kazakh boxer as well and achieved a fantastic bronze medal. Wangdi dominated his light flyweight (49kg) final against Shan Shubba and won the bout unanimously proving his strong development.
India’s Manjeet had to meet with Bhutan’s ASBC Asian Boxing Championships competitor Tenzin Drugyel in the final of the flyweight (52kg) but his skills were enough to beat the local favourite. Bhutan’s second gold medal in the male part of the international tournament was achieved by Kinley Wangyel who defeated India’s Vishnu Kant at the bantamweight (57kg) winning the contest by split decision.
Nima Dorji is one of their most experienced national team members who advanced to the Top8 in the Tashkent 2017 ASBC Asian Confederation Elite Boxing Championships and won several hard international fights. The lightweight (60kg) boxer controlled all of the rounds against India’s Atish and celebrated his gold after the final bell.
The next gold medal also remained in Bhutan when Dorji Wangdi defeated Puran Rev in the final of the light welterweight (63kg). Thinley is not an experienced local boxer at the welterweight (69kg) yet but he managed his success over India’s Dharampal in the final. The last gold medal of the 1st Bhutan International Boxing Championships was taken by Sangay Wangdi who defeated India’s Nishant in the final of the middleweight (75kg).

List of the winners in the 1st Bhutan International Boxing Championships
Women’s 48kg: Tandin Lhamo, Bhutan
Women’s 60kg: Vinakshi, India
Men’s 49kg: Tashi Wangdi, Bhutan
Men’s 52kg: Manjeet, India
Men’s 57kg: Kinley Wangyel, Bhutan
Men’s 60kg: Nima Dorji, Bhutan
Men’s 63kg: Dorji Wangdi, Bhutan
Men’s 69kg: Thinley, Bhutan
Men’s 75kg: Sangay Wangdi, Bhutan

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