Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan both achieved five quotas for Paris in the last day of the 1st World Olympic Qualifier
Finally, seventeen Asian boxers from eight nations earned quotas for Paris 2024 in the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event.
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, the Philippines and Vietnam earned these spots for Paris 2024.
More than 150 Asian boxers competed for the quotas in Busto Arsizio and among them 17 succeeded in Busto Arsizio but many more to come in the last Qualifier in Bangkok from May 23.
Philippines’ Aira Villegas impressed in the first round against Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova and she took the lead on the judges’ scorecards. The Filipina light flyweight (50kg) boxer was almost untouchable for the Bulgarian in the first and second rounds but she had to keep the focus until the last gong to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova and Japan’s Rinka Kinoshita both won already Asian Championships during their career. Both had the similar fighting style today, which was based on speed and quick footwork and in that game Bobokulova was better in the first round. Kinoshita increased her tempo therefore the 20-year-old Uzbek must be focused until the last seconds to win this contest and the Olympic spot.
Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio was silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics but she was motivated in the whole World Qualifier. She started better than in her previous contest and she was looking for the best attacking moments against another Tokyo Olympian, Esra Yildiz Kahraman of Turkey. Following Aira Villegas, the former World Champion Nesthy Petecio also qualified for the Paris Olympics from the Philippines.
Kazakhstan’s 2021 World Champion and Olympics bronze medallist Saken Bibossynov used his excellent tempo to catch Great Britain’s Kiaran MacDonald in the first round in their men’s flyweight (51kg) quota bout. The outstanding Kazakh was confident in the second round as well and despite of the British attacks in the third, Bibossynov qualified for his next Olympic Games.
Kazakhstan’s reigning World Champion star Makhmud Sabyrkhan did not underestimate Tajikistan’s Asror Vokhidov in their quota bout and he delivered his very best already in the first round. The 22-year-old Kazakh had the strong advantage on the scorecards after two rounds and he was able to find the weak points of the experienced Tajik who claimed his first big title still in 2011.
Kazakhstan’s next World Champion in action was Aslanbek Shymbergenov who prepared well against Azerbaijan’s Sarkhan Aliyev before the key bout. The Kazakh light middleweight (71kg) boxer jumped into the best fighting distance and landed his shots effectively and he dominated the opening and the second round as well. Shymbergenov proved that he is one of the best boxers in the whole world, therefore he became Kazakhstan’s sixth Olympian in Paris.
Uzbekistan’s World Champion Asadkhudja Muydinkhudjayev had a strong Asian opponent Jordan’s Zeyad Eshaish for the next light middleweight (71kg) quota. The Uzbek southpaw was fresh enough in the first round and he amazed in all of the three rounds with his speed today to take the Olympic spot. His younger teammate, the 19-year-old Turabek Khabibullayev dominated his light heavyweight (80kg) bout against Colombia’s Juan Ortiz which means Uzbekistan will be there in the Games with 7-strong male team.
Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay, the defending World Champion at the light heavyweight (80kg), succeeded also in the last competition day, he had a hectic battle against Ireland’s Kelyn Cassidy as expected. The difference was tiny between them but the judges finally favoured Nurbek Oralbay who won the contest by 3:2 split decision.
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