Philippines’ Josie Gabuco returned with a success at the Indian Open Boxing Tournament on Day1

The Indian Open Boxing Tournament began with its first competition day in New Delhi where the event is holding in two rings. Philippines’ former AIBA Women’s World Champion Josie Gabuco returned with top performance after a break but developing Nepal also won one important contest on Day1.
The competition is very important for the Indian boxers before the Commonwealth Games and their Open Boxing Tournament is a selection event to the multisport event. The boxing tournament of the Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast, Australia in April 4-15 therefore many of the involved countries decided to attend in the Indian Open Boxing Tournament as one of the last preparations.
Philippines’ Josie Gabuco achieved the gold medal at the Jeju 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and after a break she decided to return in the international level. The light flyweight (48kg) boxer impressed the crowd and the judges with her tough performance and defeated Cameroon’s Christine Akoa Bengono by unanimous decision in New Delhi.
Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Chuthamat Raksat moved up to the flyweight (51kg) since her global successes but the 24-year-old boxer began her campaign well enough in the Indian Open Boxing Tournament. The Thai lady controlled her opening bout against Indonesia’s ASEAN Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist 19-year-old Ainun Azizah as first.
Nepal’s ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships competitor Bimala Shrestha won their National Championships just before the Indian Open Boxing Tournament and she has selected to take part in the international event. Nepal’s new pride shocked Tajikistan’s Farida Samiyeva in the preliminary bout of the women’s bantamweight (54kg) and the referee confirmed her unexpected RSC success in the third round.
Mongolia’s Rio 2016 Olympian Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu is now a bantamweight (56kg) boxer who started well enough his road in the Indian Open Boxing Tournament. Kharkhuu, who won the Summer Universiade in 2013, was in different level than Bangladesh’s 19-year-old Mohammad Robin Mia who has been preparing to the Commonwealth Games. The Mongolian boxer won their unequal contest by unanimous decision in New Delhi.
Mongolia’s Uranchimeg Munkh-Erdene is member of the national team since 2000 and achieved medals in all of the main international events in recent one and half decade. The London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Mongolian decided to come back to the world of boxing last year and showed his strength against Seychelles’ Edrian Volcere in the opening contest of the men’s light welterweight (64kg).
India’s Commonwealth Games winner Manoj Kumar is a two-time Olympian and has got similar number of international bouts as nationals. The 32-year-old Indian veteran moved up to the welterweight (69kg) since the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and started slowly against Kenya’s Jacob Kimathi in the first round. He raised his tempo from the second and did not give any chance to his younger African opponent.
India’s Sanjeet is member of their third squad at the heavyweight (91kg) and following his bronze medals in the national events, he received the right to box in the Indian Open Boxing Tournament. Sanjeet had difficulties in the first round against Kazakhstan’s Youth National Champion 19-year-old Ontalap Rakhmanov but he was able to turn back their narrow battle until the end of the final gong.
Uzbekistan’s super heavyweight (+91kg) No.1 Bakhodir Jalolov was selected to take part in the Indian Open Boxing Tournament following his participation at the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The defending ASBC Asian Champion Uzbek boxer was too tall for India’s Parveen Kumar who was not able to reduce the fighting distance in their preliminary contest therefore Jalolov advanced to the next stage.