Astashenkov Junior Tournament in Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan claimed nine gold medals in the Astashenkov Junior Memorial Tournament

The fifth edition of the Viktor Astashenkov Junior Memorial Tournament was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where the host country claimed nine gold medals while Russia and Kazakhstan both also won two weight classes. The venue of the Astashenkov Junior Memorial Tournament was the Kozhomkul Sport Palace in Bishkek.
The competition was preparation for the boxing tournament of the Children of Asia Games which will be held in Yakutsk, Russia in July and that event will be the main challenge for the junior boxers of our continent this year. Boxers who were born in 2000 and in 2001 were eligible to compete in the Astashenkov Junior Memorial Tournament in Bishkek.
The first gold medal of the competition was achieved by Akelbayev Prizes Junior Tournament winner 15-year-old Musa Teshebayev of Kyrgyzstan who defeated Russia’s Mark Tsitser in the semi-finals and his main local rival Elzar Satimbayev in the final of the Pinweight class (46 kg) in spite of the fact his opponent had more experiences in the international level.
Kyrgyzstan’s Akim Prizes Junior Tournament silver medallist Dastan Ormonov was successful in the international level in the recent months and defeated ASBC Asian Junior Champion Aibek Dosanov of Kazakhstan as well. His gold medal at the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) after beating Kyrgyzstan’s Asan Abdykadyrov was an expected result in the Astashenkov Junior Memorial Tournament.
Adilet Kubanych Uulu is a new face among the bests but his efforts delivered for him a gold medal at the Flyweight class (50 kg). Akelbayev Prizes Junior Tournament winner Sanzhar Seidakmatov is a big talent who has got excellent footwork and his technique is much better than the average in the junior level. The 16-year-old boxer was too strong for Kyrgyzstan’s Nur Akmataliyev in the final of the Light Bantamweight class (52 kg).
Kyrgyzstan’s best future hope could be ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist 16-year-old Adilet Egemberdi Uulu who delivered top performances in 2015. He claimed bronze medal at the Akim Prizes Junior Tournament in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan in February and since then he moved up one category. Egemberdi Uulu had difficult final against Kazakhstan’s Nurdaulet Abdikadyrov but finally his hand was raised after the third round.
Kazakhstan’s first gold medal was delivered by Beknur Akzhigitov at the Lightweight class (60 kg) while his teammate Junior National Championships quarter-finalist Bekzat Shymkentbay was also able to win his category in Bishkek. Ruslan Abyzov and Akim Prizes Junior Tournament winner Aleksandr Sheshunov claimed two gold medals for Russia in the event in Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan’s Akelbayev Prizes Junior Tournament winner Urmat Bektursunov had lethal punches in the final of the Middleweight class (75 kg) and the referee stopped his contest in the second round which delivered for him gold in Bishkek. Akelbayev Prizes Junior Tournament silver medallist Temirlan Sultanaliyev defeated his teammate Ilyas Niyazov and claimed his first title. The last gold medal of the Astashenkov Junior Tournament was won by Kyrgyzstan’s experienced Buled Yansupov who triumphed over his teammate Salim Yunusov in the final of the Heavyweight class (+80 kg).

List of the winners in the Astashenkov Junior Tournament

46 kg: Musa Teshebayev, Kyrgyzstan
48 kg: Dastan Ormonov, Kyrgyzstan
50 kg: Adilet Kubanych Uulu, Kyrgyzstan
52 kg: Sanzhar Seidakmatov, Kyrgyzstan
54 kg: Bayel Toktombayev, Kyrgyzstan
57 kg: Adilet Egemberdi Uulu, Kyrgyzstan
60 kg: Beknur Akzhigitov, Kazakhstan
63 kg: Ruslan Abyzov, Russia
66 kg: Bekzat Shymkentbay, Kazakhstan
70 kg: Aleksandr Sheshunov, Russia
75 kg: Urmat Bektursunov, Kyrgyzstan
80 kg: Temirlan Sultanaliyev, Kyrgyzstan
+80 kg: Buled Yansupov, Kyrgyzstan