Thailand and China produced superb quarter-final day in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament where Bhutan and Malaysia are also medallists
The day of the important quarter-finals was held in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament where 48 contests were in the official program on Day5. Thailand, India, China and Uzbekistan were excellent in the fifth competition day but Bhutan and Malaysia are also among the medallist nations.
The number of the boxers in the competition is altogether impressive 247 from 32 different nations of all of the five Confederations. Among the 247 participants, 98 are women boxers and 149 male athletes are attending in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament. Fourteen champions will be crowned in the day of the finals on July 27.
Most of the participating nations are using the Thailand Open Boxing Tournament as the last selection and preparation before the upcoming AIBA World Boxing Championships and AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
The first men’s medal was won by China’s Hu Jianguan at the flyweight (52kg)
China’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Hu Jianguan is one of the best Asian flyweight (52kg) boxers who started the first round with excellent footwork against Laos’ No.1 Khamsathone Khamphouvanh. The Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Chinese was quicker than his Lao opponent which was a difference between them today. The 22-year-old Lao boxer tried to catch the Chinese but Hu was a hard target and launched successful counter-attacks today. Hu advanced to the semi-finals where he will be boxing with Thailand’s Surasit Luangpotha for the place of the final.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Tam and China’s Chang Yuan both advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s flyweight (51kg)
Vietnam’s 2017 ASBC Asian Champion Nguyen Thi Tam had a tough road to the quarter-finals but she increased her tempo after the preliminaries and eliminated Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg in their flyweight (51kg) contest. In another key quarter-final bout in this division China’s Jakarta 2018 Asian Games winner Chang Yuan controlled the bout against Russia’s newly crowned National Champion Liliya Aetbayeva. The final verdict was unanimous decision in the favour of Chang who will be boxing in the last four with Vietnam’s pride in Bangkok.
China’s Gu Hong won the repeat final of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Bangkok
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin defeated China’s Gu Hong in the final of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships but the opposite result was happened in the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships three months ago. The Chinese boxer was passive in the first round but Chen also did not find the best fighting distance in the opening period. The Chinese welterweight (69kg) boxer was slightly better from counter-attacks in their tactical quarter-final and eliminated Chen which means she will be meeting in the semi-finals with Russia’s Galina Golovchenko.
Mongolia’s Erdenebat Tsendbaatar are also among the semi-finalists
Mongolia’s first guaranteed medal in the men’s boxers was achieved by Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu who was able to turn back the quarter-final of the flyweight (52kg) against Thailand’s Chakkaphong Chanpirom. Mongolia’s Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Champion Erdenebat Tsendbaatar are also semi-finalists in the Thailand Open following his success over China’s Lin Yulong. The 23-year-old Mongolian will be meeting in the semi-finals of the lightweight (60kg) with Kazakhstan’s Adilet Kurmetov who eliminated Thailand’s teenager Khunatip Pidnuch.
Thailand’s Wuttichai Masuk advanced to the semi-final of the men’s welterweight (69kg)
Thailand’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Champion Wuttichai Masuk moved up to the welterweight (69kg) in the recent three months but he adopted the strength of the punches very quickly. The 29-year-old Thai No.1 used counter-attacking style in the recent bouts but he was more aggressive in his quarter-final bout against Botswana’s experienced Mmusi Tswiige. Masuk was patient in the first round but he increased his rhythm successfully from the second and caught his African opponent. Tswiige had the brave attempt to win their contest but Masuk’s technical superiority decided the fight in Bangkok. The Thai star will be meeting in the semi-final with India’s Ashish Kulhriya who eliminated Jamaica’s Joshua Frazer on Day5.
Thailand’s Anavat Thongkrathok and China’s Zhang Jilei delivered upsets at the men’s light heavyweight (81kg) on Day5
Uzbekistan’s Dilshodbek Ruzmetov was silver medallist in the 2015 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships and following his national results he was involved to the elite team this year. The 20-year-old Uzbek had to meet with a veteran opponent Thailand’s Anavat Thongkrathok and their contest became one of the most spectacular ones of the fifth competition day. Their close bout was surprisingly won by the 37-year-old Thai boxer who is now a guaranteed medallist in Bangkok. The second shocking surprise of the day in this weight class was delivered by China’s Zhang Jilei who eliminated Philippines’ ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist John Nobel Marvin.
Mirzakhmedov and Fuad are semi-finalists at the men’s light flyweight (49kg)
Uzbekistan’s Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov was gold medallist in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships at the men’s light flyweight (49kg) therefore he was confident in the quarter-final against Thailand’s Cologne Boxing World Cup winner Wuttichai Yurachai. The Uzbek boxer and his Thai opponent have done an amazing quarter-final in Bangkok which was won by Mirzakhmedov. The 25-year-old Uzbek will be meeting in the semi-finals with Malaysia’s Southeast Asian Games winner Muhammad Fuad Bin Mohamed Redzuan who eliminated Nepal’s Sushil Thapa Magar.
Bhutan’s Tashi Wangdi achieved a medal at the very first time in such a big event as the Thailand Open
Bhutan’s Tashi Wangdi eliminated Kazakhstan’s favourite Askhat Zhussupov on Day3 which was a big sensation in the Thailand Open. The 23-year-old boxer from Bhutan was motivated in the quarter-finals against Sri Lanka’s Sajeewa Nuwan and started the bout better than his opponent. Wangdi used his excellent footwork to catch the Sri Lankan boxer who was competitive only in the third round. Bhutan’s new pride won their contest which means he is already in the semi-final and won at least a bronze medal in Bangkok. Wangdi’s next opponent in the last four will be India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Deepak Singh.
Philippines’ Ian Clark Bautista is among the semi-finalists at the men’s bantamweight (56kg)
Philippines’ Ian Clark Bautista knocked out his previous opponent in the men’s bantamweight (56kg) at the Thailand Open but he had a seriously hard challenge in the quarter-finals against Mongolia’s Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu. The Filipino boxer was brave from the first seconds and he used his tough hooks against the Mongolian who had more than 300 contests during his career. Bautista kept his level until the end of the final gong and marched to the semi-finals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok. Thailand’s ASBC Asian Champion Chatchai Decha Butdee and India’s Mohammed Hussamuddin also could be favourites in this weight class.
Thailand’s Atichai Phoemsap defeated his top Kazakh opponent at the men’s light welterweight (64kg)
Thailand’s A team member Somchay Wongsuwan walked over to the semi-finals of the men’s light welterweight (64kg) following his teammate Bunjong Sinsiri was unable to box against him. Thailand’s B team member is Youth Olympic Games winner and AIBA Youth World Champion Atichai Phoemsap proved smart boxing against Kazakhstan’s National Spartakyad winner Nurzhan Makashbayev and the 19-year-old local talent secured his place in the last four. Mongolia’s Asian Games silver medallist Chinzorig Baatarsukh also advanced to the final four winning his contest unanimously on Day5.
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