The first gold medallist Sena Irie is Japan’s new boxing hero
The first gold medal found its owner in the boxing event of the Tokyo Olympic Games where Japan’s Sena Irie reached her career highlight with a title at the women’s featherweight (57kg). Besides to her amazing gold medal, Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee and Philippines’ Carlo Paalam also amazed in the tenth competition day.
Boxers at the women’s featherweight (57kg), women’s lightweight (60kg), men’s flyweight (52kg), men’s featherweight (57kg), men’s lightweight (63kg), men’s welterweight (69kg) and men’s heavyweight (91kg) were in actions in the tenth competition day.
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.
Ryomei Tanaka eliminated the tough Colombian
Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka won the title of the Rio Olympic Test Event in 2015 but after that he was not able to qualify for the Games five years ago. The Japanese flyweight (52kg) boxer was the last remaining male hope of the host country and he gave in everything to show his very best at the quarter-final in Tokyo. Tanaka met with Colombia’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Yuberjen Martinez and did not find the best fighting distance in the first round. The Japanese received the best instruction in the first break to turn back their contest and he remained his chance alive to win the bout before the final period. Tanaka produced his best against the attacking Colombian in the third and secured Japan’s third guaranteed medal in the boxing event.
Philippines’ Carlo Paalam defeated the defending champion
Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Felix Marcial claimed medals in the Tokyo Olympic Games and their men’s flyweight (52kg) boxer, Carlo Paalam followed them to the last four. The 23-year-old boxer claimed bronze medal at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and won several medals in the recent years but he was not the favourite against Uzbekistan’s defending Olympic Games winner Shakhobidin Zoirov. The Filipino surprised Zoirov with his speed and his footwork was impressive in the first round of their quarter-final. Paalam exceeded all of his previous boxing level and eliminated Uzbekistan’s star boxer in the Olympic Games.
Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee caused the next surprise and advanced to the last four
Sudaporn Seesondee achieved silver medal at 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and she has got more than 10 years of international experiences but she had to meet with Great Britain’s Youth Olympic Games winner and AIBA Youth Word Champion 20-year-old Caroline Dubois in the quarter-finals. The British lightweight (60kg) boxer is one of the biggest talents in the world who used his amazing footwork and counter-attacks against Seesondee. The Thai had the experience to handle this tactical issue and after two exciting rounds there were 19:19 in all of the scorecards. The 30-year-old Seesondee was still fresh enough in the third round to win their difficult contest and earned Thailand’s first medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Japan’s Sena Irie is the first Olympic Champion in the boxing hall
Japan’s Sena Irie claimed two bronze medals in the 2017 and 2018 AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships and joined to the elite national team already in 2019. Irie moved ahead step by step in the international rankings and following her silver medal at the Asian & Oceanian Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event, she was named as one of the favourites.
The 21-year-old Japanese met in the first Olympic final at the women’s featherweight (57kg) with Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio who eliminated the main favourite, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting and proved amazing boxing in Tokyo. Irie tried to keep the distance and worked from longer range in the first round against the attacking Petecio. The Filipina was even more aggressive in the second round therefore the final verdict was depended on their performance in the third. Irie found back her rhythm in the last period and her fantastic technical skills were decisive in the final, earning Japan’s first gold medal in the boxing hall. Irie’s gold medal is Japan’s third title in the history of the Olympic Games after Takao Sakurai and Ryota Murata.
Kazakhstan’s second medal was achieved by Saken Bibossynov
Kazakhstan’s first medal was earned by Kamshybek Kunkabayev at the super heavyweight (+91kg) and their Saken Bibossynov fought for their second in Tokyo. The AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kazakh shocked his European Games winner Spanish rival, Gabriel Escobar who has been counted by the US referee in the first round. Bibossynov had to keep his full concentration until the last gong against the powerful Spanish who moved on feet a lot to find the best attacking positions. Escobar had tough hooks but Bibossynov’s stamina was enough to win their narrow contest and advanced to the semi-finals in the Games.
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