Three competition days are over at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. This championship is the first global boxing event to take place in Poland.
There have already been bouts in almost all of the weight categories, with the exception of three women and two men divisions. Boxers in the men’s flyweight (52kg), women’s bantamweight (54kg), women’s featherweight (57kg) and women’s lightweight (60kg) advanced already to the quarter-finals.
Altogether, 121 bouts were contested during the first three competition days in Kielce. A total number of 414 boxers including 140 women and 270 men from 52 different countries are attending the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. 293 are still in the competition, determined to make it to the podium.
Uzbekistan produced perfect performances on the first three days
The Uzbeks arrived with 18 boxers to the championships and all of them have realistic medals expectations. Mr. Hamid Tangribergenov, the Uzbek head coach selected powerful women and men teams, following the sparring events in Yangiabad.
The Uzbek boxers achieved several medals at the Fujairah 2019 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships and also at the Ulaanbaatar 2019 ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships and their impressive performances continue in Kielce. All of their boxers eliminated tough rivals and made the country proud but their mission is not yet over.
Cuba’s welterweight (69kg) boxer Dany Lafos had two spectacular contests
The Cuban youth squad competed last time at the 2019 Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament in Russia two years ago. The Cubans returned to the international events in Kielce and their Dany Lafos delighted the fans in the preliminary rounds. The Youth Cuban Champion had an exciting battle against Mexico’s Marco Verde in the welterweight (69kg) division, but he triumphed with impressive stamina on Day 1. His next contest was also a spectacular one against Czech Republic’s Milos Beranek.
Uktamova vs. Khanam was the highlight of the third day
The third competition day saw 52 preliminary contests and among them, Uzbekistan’s Nigina Uktamova and India’s Arshi Khanam made the bout of the session. The defending ASBC Asian Women’s Junior Champion Nigina Uktamova and her opponent India’s Arshi Khanam landed dozens of punches within nine minutes in the bantamweight (54kg). The unbeaten Uzbek girl had sensational rhythm especially from the second round and eliminated the tough Khanam.
Jordan’s KO success
More than 85% of the contests have been decided by points in the first three days but at the end of Day 3, one of Asia’s talents knocked out his opponent. Jordan’s Anas Alsadi was the favorite against United Arab Emirates’ Hyadra Nehayan in the light welterweight (64kg) before the contest, but the KO was unexpected in their meeting. Alsadi’s amazing right-hand hook caught Nehayan perfectly and the UAE boxer collapsed to the canvas. The referee confirmed the Jordanian’s KO success which was the first at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships.
Iceland made its debut
Iceland has never attended any of the previous AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in the past, but this time one of their boxers was selected to compete in this highest level of youth competition. Emin Kadri Eminsson won the Boxam Junior Tournament in Spain nearly three years ago and he arrived in Kielce after a successful preparation. Iceland has only around 100 boxers on the island but Eminsson demonstrated their spirit and fighting skills despite his narrow loss to Ecuador’s Piero Prieto.
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