The Hijab made its official debut on the first day of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships

The first competition day of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships was held in two sessions in Bangkok today. Following the positive AIBA EC decision United Arab Emirates’ Hanan Alzeyoudi has written history and she became the first female boxer who used Hijab in a boxing event.
The new edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships has set up new records both in the number of the entering boxers and also in the number of the participating countries in Bangkok. Altogether 304 athletes including 112 women and 192 men boxers will be attending in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships from tomorrow.
The following 34 nations are attending in Bangkok: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

The first bout of the whole ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships was won by Philippines’ Ramel Macado
Iran’s Omid Ahmadisafa won four international tournaments in the recent one year including the Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament and the Makran Box Cup. The Persian had to meet with a same tall opponent Philippines’ Ramel Macado at the men’s light flyweight (49kg) which was the first bout in the whole competition. The Iranian could not use his long distance tactic this time well enough and Macado’s counter-punches were slightly better today which means the first bout of the whole event was won by the younger Filipino.

Laos had a historical victory in the first session which was delivered by Khamsathone Khamphouvanh
Laos’ Khamsathone Khamphouvanh attended already in the 2014 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Since then he competed several international events and had more experiences than China’s Bao Jiancong and delivered one of the main sensations of the whole competition day. The 22-year-old Vientiane-based boxer was confident, moved ahead from the first seconds and celebrated his success after the final gong. Khamphouvanh’s victory was Laos’ first success since the ASBC has been officially formed in 2007.

DPR Korea’s Jo Hyo Nam won his debuting fight at the bantamweight (56kg)
DPR Korea’s Jo Hyo Nam United claimed silver medal at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games last August and arrived to Bangkok as one of the favourites of the men’s bantamweight (56kg). The 22-year-old North Korean had to face with United Arab Emirates’ Saad Sadid Al-Mazher in the first preliminary round of the event. The referee counted the UAE boxer in the first round but Al-Mazher survived the dangerous moments and he was able to fight until the end of the last gong. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the North Korean boxer who joined to the Top16 in Bangkok but United Arab Emirates’ hope also impressed on Day1.

Kazakhstan’s Kayrat Yeraliyev opened the event in style
Kazakhstan’s Kayrat Yeraliyev is the defending AIBA World Champion at the bantamweight (56kg) but he lost his preliminary contest in the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games. The 29-year-old boxer had a tactical first round against South Korea’s Lee Ye Chan but from the second he increased his tempo. The smaller Kazakh boxer was quicker than his younger South Korean opponent and bowed out Lee from his way. Yeraliyev proved that he is similar strong shape as he had by the time of the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Jordan’s first success was taken by Obada Al-Kasbeh
Jordan’s 25-year-old Obada Al-Kasbeh trains now with Ukrainian coach Mr. Andriy Proskurnin and prepared well to the event. He claimed silver medal at the Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and bronze at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games. The Rio 2016 Olympian Jordanian boxer had to meet with a dangerous opponent China’s Wang Gang in first round of the the men’s light welterweight (64kg). Jordan’s experienced boxer dictated the tempo in their bout and won the contest unanimously in Bangkok which means he is now in the last 16.

Kazakhstan won four-in-a-row contests in Bangkok
Following Kayrat Yeraliyev’s success Kazakhstan won four-in-a-row contests in the opening day of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. ASBC Asian Youth Champion Samatali Toltayev controlled all rounds against Indonesia’s Libertus Gha and advanced to the last 16 of the light welterweight (64kg). Tursynbai Kulakhmet has been attending in the international events since 2012 and finally he received the right to compete in a top competition where his technician style paid off against DPR Korea’s Hong Chung Il. Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Vasiliy Levit triumphed over Iran’s Amir Pouria at the heavyweight (91kg) before Anvar Muzaparov eliminated Mongolia’s Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu in a close flyweight (52kg) contest.

Chinese Taipei’s Tu Po Wei won the bout but Bahrain has done its debut in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships
Chinese Taipei’s FISU University World Boxing Championships silver medallist Tu Po Wei moved up to the flyweight (52kg) and he used his technician style to keep his safest distance against Bahrain’s Muhammad Bilal in Bangkok. Tu landed quick combinations but his Pakistani-born Bahraini opponent was also brave in the exchanges. Chinese Taipei’s hope won the contest by unanimous decision but Bilal was able to fight until the very end on his first ever international competition. In spite of Bilal’s loss his fight was Bahrain’s first ever contest in the history of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and the country is recognized in the Asian boxing map.

Afghanistan’s two successes on Day1 are over their expectations
Afghanistan is attending in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships with record number of nine boxers in Bangkok and their talents caused two major surprises in the opening day of the event. Their three-time National Champion Ramish Rahmani moved ahead and used rapid attacks against South Korea’s Jo Seo Hyeong in their contest at the light flyweight (49kg). Rahmani’s hand was raised after the final gong and eliminated a top rival. Afghanistan’s new National Champion at the welterweight (69kg) Hussaib Amiri exceeded also the expectations and bowed out Qatar’s Rio 2016 Olympian Thulasi Tharumalingam in Thailand’s capital which was another upset.

Surprises at the women’s featherweight (57kg) on Day1
Tajikistan’s Mizhgona Samadova switched from other martial arts only in 2017 but she attended at the New Delhi 2018 AIBA World Boxing Championships last November. Tajikistan’s youngster was aggressive from the first seconds and unexpectedly she defeated Kazakhstan’s Saniya Sultankyzy at the featherweight (57kg). The second surprise success was delivered by Japan’s two-time AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sena Irie who shocked Philippines’ No.1 Nesthy Petecio in another world class contest in Bangkok.

United Arab Emirates’ Hanan Alzeyoudi is the first female boxer in the history of the sport who used Hijab in a competition
Thailand’s Suchada Panich had to meet in the first preliminary round of the women’s light welterweight (64kg) with United Arab Emirates’ Hanan Alzeyoudi which contest is a historical one in our sport. Following the AIBA EC’s approval regarding wearing Hijab for female boxers on February United Arab Emirates sent two women athletes to attend in Bangkok. Alzeyoudi is a newcomer in the international stage but she fought bravely in her debuting contest which was the official opening of Hijab in boxing’s history.

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