Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov raised the number of the Asian gold medals up to four in the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games

The fifth and last competition day of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games was held in the Argentinean capital where Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Champion Abdumalik Khalokov raised the number of the Asian gold medals up to four.
Eight of our Asian hopes advanced to the finals of the Youth Olympic Games which is the same performance as in the Nanjing 2014 edition but four of them won their weight classes. Asia ranked No.2 among the continents winning 4 gold medals, 4 silvers and also 4 bronze in Buenos Aires.
Following the tough qualification process which were held in each continent between April and June the selected 28 women and 55 men boxers will be attending in the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Among them the 17 Asian boxers including 6 women and 11 men talents are focusing to the medals of the boxing event. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Uzbekistan received the right among the Asian nations to compete in the Youth Olympic Games.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Champion and ASBC Asian Youth Champion Abdumalik Khalokov defeated Albania’s Muhamet Qamili and Argentina’s Mirco Cuello during his road to the finals of the bantamweight (56kg) in Buenos Aires. The promising Uzbek boxer had to meet in the final with Ukraine’s two-time EUBC European Champion Maksym Halinichev in a re-match. Khalokov, who is one of the best youth boxers in the whole globe, controlled their final and his fantastic performance delivered gold for Uzbekistan.
ASBC Asian Youth Champion Talgat Shayken was finally selected to attend in the Kazakh national squad at the men’s light welterweight (64kg) and he advanced to the finals with superb performance. The 18-year-old Kazakh boxer started the first round of his final well enough against Russia’s AIBA Youth World Champion Ilia Popov and he looked motivated against his top rival. The Russian landed also a few good punches and finally his hand was raised after the last gong in Buenos Aires.
Thailand qualified maximum number of five boxers to the Youth Olympic Games and their ASBC Asian Women’s Youth Champion Porntip Buapa was the fourth who advanced to the finals of the event and all of them won medals in Buenos Aires. The 17-year-old Buapa had to meet in the final of the women’s lightweight (60kg) with Great Britain’s superstar Caroline Dubois. The young Thai talent tried to use a patient tactic in the final but her unbeaten European rival was quicker which means Buapa achieved silver in Buenos Aires.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Junior World Champion Timur Merzhanov was impressive in 2015 and in 2016 but he had a few difficulties last year. The 18-year-old Uzbek returned with a silver medal at the Bangkok 2018 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships and he had the right to box for the bronze against Egypt’s Youssef Ali Karar Ali Moussa. The Uzbek light heavyweight (81kg) boxer landed the better punches in the contest and secured his bronze medal in Buenos Aires.

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