Great opening day for Chinese Taipei in the Asian Games

The most exciting moment of the year has come the boxing tournament of the Asian Games begun with 22 preliminary contests in Jakarta. Chinese Taipei had three boxers including two women in actions in the opening day and all of them won their contests by large margin of differences in the Asian Games.
Altogether 194 boxers from 31 countries are fighting for the 10 gold medals in the boxing event of the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games. China, host Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Mongolia and Thailand are attending with maximum number of 10 boxers in the Asian Games.
China’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist and Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Hu Jianguan was the favourite against Vietnam’s Tran Van Thao at the men’s flyweight (52kg). The Chinese boxer led 20:18 in each scorecard after six minutes of fight and he enjoyed the last round well enough against his Vietnamese opponent. Hu has got world class footwork and he impressed with this weapon in Jakarta on Day1.
DPR Korea’s 20-year-old O Tae Bom is a newcomer in the national team who competed only in national events in the recent years. The North Korean flyweight (52kg) boxer was a dark horse before the start of the Asian Games but he showed his potential against such an experienced hope as Turkmenistan’s Zarip Jumayev. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the North Korean boxer who delivered a small surprise with his effective style.
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev was motivated in the first day of the Asian Games against Laos’ Viengxay Akkhasith at the men’s flyweight (52kg). The Kyrgyz boxer arrived to the venue of the Asian Games in seriously top form and dominated mainly the second and third rounds against his Southeast Asian rival. Akkhasith, who trains with Russian coach Dmitriy Morozov, is a talented teenager but Usenaliev was too strong for him.
Chinese Taipei’s Lai Chu En qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after 20 years of hiatus in his country’s boxing life. The 22-year-old lightweight (60kg) boxer trained in several countries in the recent months to prepare well to the Asian Games and those sparrings paid off in the first day of the Asian Games in Jakarta. Lai controlled his opening fight against United Arab Emirates’ Fahad Hassan and won the bout by unanimous decision.
Kazakhstan’s two-time WSB Team Champion Aslanbek Shymbergenov was taller than Indonesia’s Saroha Tua Lumbantobing and he used his longer reach well already in the first round. The Kazakh welterweight (69kg) boxer was better in longer distance and he was also excellent with closer punches. Shymbergenov, who won three strong AOB tournaments this year, enjoyed the final round and dominated their last minutes against his four years younger Indonesian rival in Jakarta.
Iran’s top boxer in their men’s elite team ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sajjad Kazemzadeh was strong in the preparation events in 2018, he claimed three silver medals. The 23-year-old Iranian used longer distance and sometimes fought closer against Philippines’ Joel Bacho in their top bout. Kazemzadeh had more tactical weapons than his Filipino rival which means the Iranian was able to win his debuting welterweight (69kg) contest.
Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov was ASBC Asian Champion and AIBA World Champion in 2017 but he turned already to professional. Their National Champion Makhmud Gaipov was not enough strong in the international events and he was replaced by Islamic Solidarity Games winner Bobo-Usmon Boturov who began his campaign well against Mongolia’s Byamba-Erdene Otgonbaatar at the welterweight (69kg).
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Ting is the defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion at the bantamweight (54kg) who moved down one category to compete in the Asian Games. Lin is unbeaten since September 2016 therefore she is a gold medal contender in Jakarta. Lin used his longer reach and dominated her fight against a small opponent Indonesia’s Aldriani Beatrichx Suguro in Jakarta.
DPR Korea’s ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships silver medallist Pang Chol Mi impressed with her tough footwork and high number of combinations which efforts were enough to eliminate a top rival, Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Chuthamat Raksat at the flyweight (51kg) in Jakarta. Another North Korean lady Jo Son Hwa also won her difficult opening bout against Mongolia’s Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag at the women’s featherweight (57kg).
Chinese Taipei’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Huang Hsiao Wen and Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympian Yodgoroy Mirzaeva both are members of the new generations in women’s boxing at the featherweight (57kg). Huang was taller than her Uzbek rival and her tough jabs meant Chinese Taipei produced a superb day in the Asian Games.
Vietnam’s former AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Vuong Thi Vy is still 23 but she has got enough international experiences to do big things in the Asian Games. Vuong felt the tempo against Indonesia’s Southeast Asian Games silver medallist Christina Marwan Jembay and advanced to the next round of the women’s featherweight (57kg). In the same weight class Kazakhstan’s Saniya Sultankyzy controlled her fight against Sri Lanka’s Keshani Kasturi Hansika and her hands were raised after the last gong.

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