The twenty-four youth and elite final bouts took place in the sixth competition day at the 17th edition of the Silesian Women’s Open Tournament in Gliwice, Poland. Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic and Turkey were the best nations in the elite and youth final contests. Sweden’s Love Holgersson, Netherlands’ Gabriela Weerheim and Poland’s Martyna Jancelewicz caused the surprises in the day of the finals.
The new 17th edition of the Silesian Open was a preparation event for the upcoming IBA Youth World Boxing Championships, EUBC European Women’s Elite Boxing Championships, ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships and the EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships. The Technical Delegate of the Silesian Women’s Open Tournament was Mr. Dragoljub Radovic of Montenegro.
The strong international competition featured for the women’s elite, youth and junior boxers in Gliwice, Poland. The Event Director Mr. Henryk Wilk is the engine of the Silesian Women’s Open Tournament who launched the competition to develop the female boxing in Poland and in the entire European continent. Out of the European boxers, Kazakhstan and Thailand sent their best female hopes and increased the level of the Silesian Open.
The bout of the day
Sweden’s Love Holgersson won the 2011 AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships and she is the country’s best middleweight (75kg) boxer since their former star, Anna Laurell retired in 2016. Holgersson achieved several medals in the recent years but her performance in Gliwice was better than in the previous competitions. The tall Swedish girl tried to keep Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova on long from the first seconds and her counter-attacks were her weapon in their final bout. Khalzova, who earned a gold medal at the 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, made her debut in this weight class but Holgersson was slightly better than her in this final bout.
The surprise of the day
Netherlands’ Gabriela Weerheim is a 17-year-old talent who competed at the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships in Sofia this April. Since then, she proved strong development and the young Dutch girl was one of the sensations at the Silesian Open Tournament. Weerheim eliminated France’s defending EUBC European Youth Champion Kaelya Mopin in the semi-finals of the youth bantamweight (54kg) and faced another French boxer for the title. Cyndelle Bachelet is a top quality boxer but Weerheim worked hard in all of the three rounds to beat her second French rival in Gliwice.
The Round-Up
Ukraine’s EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships silver medallist Sofia Turbinina joined the youth age group this January and she is one of the strongest European prospects at the minimumweight (48kg). The 17-year-old Ukrainian controlled the first and second rounds against Hungary’s Kata Pap and she had massive advantage on the scorecards. Turbinina’s opponent abandoned the final after the second break and the Ukrainian boxer won the first youth title in Gliwice. Her teammate, Anastasia Kramarenko walked over to the title at the featherweight (57kg) and Tetiana Dovhal continued Ukraine’s winning path at the youth lightweight (60kg).
Denmark’s lone junior boxer at the Silesian Women’s Open Tournament, Nadja Munkholm won the featherweight (57kg) in the fifth day of boxing with amazing performance. Her teammate, the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sofie Rosshaug not only advanced to the final of the youth light flyweight (50kg) but she won Denmark’s second gold medal in Gliwice. Rosshaug controlled her final against Germany’s experienced Jessica Vollmann and proved impressive game play before the IBA Youth World Boxing Championships.
Poland’s Juliana Rutkowska eliminated her German rival in the semi-finals of the youth light welterweight (63kg) and she had a strong performance in the final against Hungary’s Franciska Varga. The Hungarian, who has limited international experiences, used her jabs to keep the best fighting distance but Rutkowska had the speed to catch Varga from closer range. Following Rutkowska’s gold medal, another Polish youth talent, Oliwia Czerwinska won the title of the light middleweight (70kg).
Norway has a top quality of youth team this year, their two-time EUBC European Youth Champion Sunniva Hofstad is star not only in the continent but in the whole globe too. The 18-year-old Norwegian spent a short time in the ring following her opponent, Ukraine’s Anastasia Saraniuk abandoned the middleweight (75kg) final in the first round. The second top Norwegian, Sofia Stigen Sorensen was bronze medallist in Sofia this April but won international tournaments with strong performance. Sorensen dominated the first exchanges against Poland’s Maria Pepek at the light heavyweight (81kg) and her opponent’s ringside abandoned the final.
Italy’s former Women’s World Champion Alessia Mesiano is in top shape this year and the lightweight (60kg) is perfect for her physical conditions. The experienced Italian eliminated one of her main rivals, Chile’s Valentina Bustamante in the semi-finals of the Silesian Women’s Open Tournament and she had another tight contest in Gliwice. Czech Republic’s 21-year-old Lenka Bernardova proved impressive development in this event and she was highly competitive for Mesiano. The 31-year-old Italian needed still a strong performance in the last round and the difference between their experiences delivered a gold for Mesiano. Serbia’s ex-Russian Natalia Shadrina switched to the light welterweight (63kg) and the experienced boxer was too quick for Italy’s Assunta Canfora in their respective final. Turkey’s two-time World Champion Busenaz Surmeneli is a powerful fighter and her confidence controlled the final against Poland’s promising Aneta Rygielska at the welterweight (66kg). Lithuania’s defending World Champion at the light heavyweight (81kg), Gabriele Stonkute lost to Poland’s Martyna Jancelewicz in one of the tightest finals of the day.
