Thailand’s teenage talent Baison Manikon caused a sensational surprise in the opening day of the Tokyo Olympic Games
Following the Opening Ceremony, the first competition day was held in the Tokyo Olympic Games where several of the Asian boxers had to box for the last 16. Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Iran all won preliminary contests in the opening day. Thailand’s 19-year-old Baison Manikon caused the biggest sensation of the day when she eliminated her Russian rival.
The Asian & Oceanian Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event was held in Amman, Jordan on March 2020 and following the cancellations of the World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event the remaining quotas have been decided through the Ranking.
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.
Nesthy Petecio is the first Asian winner in the Olympic Games
The first Asian boxer who have been in action in the Tokyo Olympic Games was Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio at the women’s featherweight (57kg). The Filipino boxer had to meet with DR Congo’s Marcela Sakobi Matshu and gained the control very quickly in the first round. Petecio is the defending AIBA Women’s World Champion in this weight class and her energetic boxing was the difference between them today. She won the preliminary contest by unanimous decision and will be meeting with Chinese Taipei’s star Lin Yu Ting.
Thailand’s teenage hope Baison Manikon eliminated her veteran Russian rival
Thailand’s Baison Manikon was the best boxer at the Ulaanbaatar 2019 ASBC Asian Women’s Youth Boxing Championships and she qualified for the Olympic Games at the age of 18 in Amman. The Thai welterweight (69kg) talent faced with Russian Olympic Committee’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Saadat Dalgatova but Manikon was brave from the first seconds. The 19-year-old Thai used her distance well enough and took the lead quickly after three minutes of fight. Manikon stopped the Russian attacks and she delivered a small surprise with her success which means she can box in the next round with China’s Gu Hong.
Kazakhstan’s first success delivered by Serik Temirzhanov
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Serik Temirzhanov joined to the elite national team just before the Asian & Oceanian Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event where he earned a bronze medal. The 23-year-old Kazakh used the Boxam Tournament, the Belgrade Winner Tournament and the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships as preparations for the Olympic Games. Temirzhanov shocked Hungary’s Roland Galos in the first minute and the referee counted his European opponent which determined their bout. The younger Kazakh controlled all of the rounds and secured his place in the last 16 of the men’s featherweight (57kg) taking his nation’s first success in Tokyo.
Japan’s Sena Irie performed world class in the opening day
Japan’s two-time AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sena Irie is one of the secret favourites at the featherweight (57kg) and she opened her campaign successfully in home soil. The 21-year-old Irie had an easier opponent as first, El Salvador’s Yamileth Solorzano who tried to do brave boxing against the promising Japanese star. Irie was technically better and she delivered world class performance as an opening in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Iran’s Daniyal Shakhbakhsh eliminated a more experienced Moroccan in Tokyo
Iran’s ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships silver medallist Daniyal Shakhbakhsh has got excellent technical skills and the 21-year-old boxer is the biggest prospect of his nation in the recent one decade. Shakhbakhsh, who robbed into the world of boxing in 2018 as a youth boxer, moved more on feet than Morocco’s AFBC African Champion Mohamed Hamout who qualified also for Rio five years ago. The younger Iranian used his counter-attacking style to catch Hamout and his speed decided their featherweight (57kg) contest.
Thailand’s veteran Chatchai Decha Butdee defeated one of the favourites
Thailand was unlucky before the start of the Olympic Games, their best hope, AIBA Youth World Champion Thitisan Panmod injured just before the start of the Tokyo event. Their lone remaining male boxer, ASBC Asian Champion Chatchai Decha Butdee delivered sensational performance in the opening day. The 36-year-old veteran used his virtuoso style of boxing in Tokyo against Great Britain’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Peter McGrail. Butdee felt the rhythm better and he had strong advantage after six minutes of fight. The Thai boxer was able to keep his concentration until the final gong and eliminated one of the medal hopefuls in Tokyo.
Nguyen Van Duong and Erdenebat Tsendbaatar advanced to the last 16 at the men’s featherweight (57kg)
Vietnam qualified two boxers for the Olympic Games at the very first time and their powerful male talent Nguyen Van Duong delivered another sensation today. The Vietnamese boxer used his strength against Azerbaijan’s Tayfur Aliyev and delivered another sensational and unexpected success on Day1. Mongolia’s Asian Games winner and two-time ASBC Asian Champion Erdenebat Tsendbaatar had more difficult job than he expected against Kenya’s veteran Nicholas Okoth Okongo but finally he succeeded in Tokyo.
Japan’s Sewon Okazawa bowed out India’s star Vikas Krishan
Japan’s ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships silver medallist Sewon Okazawa has got Ghanaian roots and he has fantastic strength at the men’s welterweight (69kg). The 26-year-old Japanese boxer was confident in the first round against India’s Vikas Krishan Yadav who qualified for his third Olympic Games. The Indian claimed plenty of medals in the recent 11 years but he was not in top form in their contest today. Okazawa landed a tough shot in the third and the referee counted the Indian veteran who could not do his very best today therefore Japan’s No.1 advanced to the last 16.
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