Twenty-three contests were on the official program of the opening day at the ASBC Asian Men’s & Women’s Elite Boxing Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates where the preliminaries featured in all of the ten men’s weight categories. The Mongolians have done perfect opening in the first competition day, all of their three boxers won on Day 1. Full results of the first session can be found here.
Altogether 150 boxers including 47 women are competing for the medals and total of $400’000 AIBA prize money at the ASBC Asian Men’s & Women’s Elite Boxing Championships.
Perfect opening for the Mongolians
Mongolia’s Unubold Orkhontungalag is a newcomer in the elite national team; he began boxing only six years ago but he was motivated in his opening contest against Sri Lanka’s Sajeewa Nuwan who competed in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. The Sri Lankan haven’t competed in the international events since the 2019 South Asian Games but he tried to do his very best in Dubai. Unubold was better in the exchanges and won the opening contest of the whole tournament.
Following the Mongolian success in the light flyweight (49kg), their second athlete in the ring was Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu who is one of the biggest punchers in the flyweight (52kg). The 25-year-old Mongolian received a few blows from United Arab Emirates’ Asian Games competitor, Sultan Al-Nuaimi. Following that, Kharkhuu increased his rhythm and landed tough punches against the brave local boxer. The referee counted the UAE boxer in the third round but Al-Nuaimi had enough condition to compete against the last gong. Kharkhuu’s unanimous success was clear and Mongolia started with two impressive triumphs in Dubai. Their third success on the opening day was delivered by Ahmet Comert winner Otgonbaatar Byamba-Erdene in the middleweight (75kg).
Afghanistan started with two strong performances in Dubai
The Afghan boxing team had a strong preparation before the Asian Championships, and despite the Covid-19 pandemic, they had a lot of national competitions the previous eight months. Their Indonesian President’s Cup silver medallist Ramish Rahmani lead the tempo against Philippines’ experienced Marvin Tabamo and defeated his rival in the flyweight (52kg) with excellent performance. Following Rahmani’s success, their 20-year-old Hasibullah Malikzadah caused the next sensational success, he defeated Tajikistan’s Bakhtovar Sagizov in the bantamweight (56kg).
“I have so much energy and power, and my tactic today was very simple, just to attack from the first seconds until the last. Before the official draw, I hoped that I can box against the Filipino boxer as I knew him from the previous events. I gave everything and tried to lead the bout with my strong punches,” said Rahmani following his success over the Filipino pride.
India’s Mohammed Hussamuddin and Shiva Thapa eliminated top quality rivals in Dubai on Day 1
India’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin had to meet in the first preliminary round in the bantamweight (56kg) with Kazakhstan’s two-time ASBC Asian Youth Champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan. The super talented Kazakh boxer felt very uncomfortable in his new category and he was not able to repeat his previous performance which he showed in the preparation tournaments in Spain and in Russia. Hussamuddin proved smart boxing in the bout of the day and his counter-attacks delivered for him an outstanding success in Dubai.
His teammate, India’s 2013 ASBC Asian Champion and AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s Dmitriy Puchnin who won the best boxer trophy in their last 2020 National Championships. Thapa overcame his younger Kyrgyz opponent in the attacks and won the light welterweight (64kg) bout by a unanimous decision.
Iran’s strong trio advanced to the quarter-finals
Iran’s first success was achieved by Ulaanbaatar Box Cup winner Omid Ahmadisafa who needed less than three minutes to knock out his rival from Kuwait, Ali Jasim, in the flyweight (52kg). His young teammate, 21-year-old Daniyal Shakhbakhsh is a sensational talent who used his footwork to beat Kazakhstan’s former ASBC Asian Youth Champion Serik Temirzhanov. The Pavlodar-based Kazakh boxer and Shakhbakhsh both competed in one division higher, the lightweight (60kg). The younger Iranian had unpredictable footwork and eliminated one of the stars of the weight category. Iran’s third impressive victory in the opening day was taken by Meysam Gheslaghi who surprisingly turned back his light heavyweight (81kg) contest against India’s Sumit Sangwan.
Tomorrow’s schedule at the 2021 ASBC Men’s and Women’s Asian Boxing Championships
The second competition day has twenty-five contests in Dubai. Women boxers from the light flyweight (48kg) up to the lightweight (60kg) will be meeting in the quarter-finals for the medals. The men’s light flyweight (49kg), bantamweight (56kg), light welterweight (64kg) and heavyweight (91kg) boxers also will compete for the guaranteed medals and money prizes on Day 2.
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