Vokhidov, Usmonov, Shukurov and Negmatulloev are the top names in Tajikistan’s team
Tajikistan registered nine boxers for the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event to Busto Arsizio, Italy and the Central Asian country is aiming for further spots.
Tajikistan impressed in the first qualification event at the Asian Games where their boxers achieved two quotas for Paris. Mizhgona Samadova and Davlat Boltayev both have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and secured their flight tickets to the French capital. Boltayev not only qualified for Paris but he won the heavyweight (92kg) at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Tajikistan earned one bronze medal in Olympic boxing history, their Mavzuna Chorieva took that at the women’s lightweight (60kg) in the London 2012 edition. Following that remarkable success, Tajikistan’s female boxing is shining and the Central Asians reached the next level.
Rukhafzo Khaknazarova is an experienced boxer at the women’s light flyweight (50kg) who earned medals in various competitions in Kazakhstan including the Elorda Cup as well. The 19-year-old Bibinashastamo Kholova (60kg) and another U22 boxer, Malika Nozimova (66kg) have been included to the national team this time.
Mekhron Shafiyev was named as the best boxer at the Tajikistan National Championships one year ago and the 21-year-old talent represented the country at the Asian Games.
Asror Vokhidov opened his boxing career with a gold medal at the 2011 Junior World Boxing Championships and he was quarter-finalist in Tashkent last year. Vokhidov returned from the professional world and his last achievement before the World Olympic Qualifier was a silver medal at the Strandja Memorial Tournament.
Bakhodur Usmonov has 11 years of routine in the international stage and his best result is a gold medal from the 2019 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. The Tokyo Olympian is a strong contender for a quota at the men’s light welterweight (63.5kg) in Busto Arsizio.
Shokhobzhon Shukurov represented Russia in the previous years but he returned to his roots to Tajikistan a few months ago and he claimed a gold medal in the National Championships. He is new in the national team in Tajikistan but the light middleweight (71kg) boxer won dozens of Russian competitions during his career. Shabbos Negmatulloev was an Olympian boxer in Tokyo and the ASBC medallist is famous for his energetic attacks at the light heavyweight (80kg). The promising Mukhammad Abroridinov is one of the tallest boxers at the super heavyweight (+92kg) and he could be a difficult opponent for the bests as well.
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