AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships – Finals Report

Asia is on the lead with six gold medals in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

The ninth edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships finished after 275 bouts in Astana, Kazakhstan where our continent achieved amazing six gold medals in the competition which was a big success for Asia and especially for the host nation. The Asian continent acquired altogether 16 medals among them six were gold and also important to underline the region took three new Olympic quotas for Rio.

Light Flyweight class (48 kg):

An Asian final was held in the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) as it happened two years ago in Jeju, Korea. Kazakhstan’s AIBA Women’s World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay had the realistic chance to defend her throne against China’s Wang Yuyan who replaced defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion E Naiyan in the national team. Both boxers eliminated great boxers in the road to the finals but only one of them could be crowned in the Barys Arena in Astana. Kyzaibay was concentrated from the first seconds until the final bell and her quick counter-attacks were successful in the first gold medal bout of the evening. The Almaty-based boxer proved better performance than Wang and secured her second World Championships title in her homeland. DPR Korea’s U Yong Gum won bronze medal in her first ever AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in this weight class.

Flyweight class (51 kg):

Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Women’s Champion at the Bantamweight class (54 kg) Peamwilai Laopeam moved down to the Olympic category and qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with her strong performance in Astana. She eliminated Morocco’s AIBA African Olympic Qualification Event winner Zohra Ez-Zahraoui, Poland’s Baku 2015 European Games silver medallist Sandra Drabik and France’s veteran Sarah Ourahmoune but her final opponent was Great Britain’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams. Laopeam was not enough fresh as in the semi-finals but her stamina was excellent in the difficult final which was won by the British veteran star. Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova claimed bronze medal in this weight class and also qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Bantamweight class (54 kg):

Kazakhstan’s Dina Zholaman, who was seeded as No.2 in the category, eliminated China’s Liu Piaopiao in the semi-finals which was her most difficult bout in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The 24-year-old Kazakh boxer was energetic and felt the rhythm against Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Champion Stoyka Petrova in the final of the category using her speed and quick attacks. Zholaman delivered one of her best performance and dominated the third and fourth rounds and after her teammate Nazym Kyzaibay she won Kazakhstan’s second gold medal in Astana.

Featherweight class (57 kg):

India’s National Champion 24-year-old Sonia Lather Singh, who moved up one weight class in the recent month, eliminated Kazakhstan’s Aizhan Khodzhabekova in the semi-final with great performance. The Indian boxer looked fresh and energetic against Italy’s Alessia Mesiano in the first round and she worked well in the second as well. Lather Singh was not able to continue and keep the same level in the second part of their close final bout and finally Mesiano’s hand was raised after the final gong. Lather Singh had the great decision moving up one category and achieved valuable silver in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):

China’s Yang Wenlu won the gold medal at the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Wulanchabu therefore she was the favourite of the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) in Astana. She defeated her main rival US teenage star Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner Jajaira Gonzalez and Great Britain’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sandy Ryan in the road to the finals. The Chinese boxer met for the gold medal with Ireland’s Kellie Harrington in Astana and she started it carefully in the Barys Arena. The Chinese boxer met with a southpaw athlete in a tactical bout but she was patient and waited for the best attacking moments using her great right-handed jabs. Yang finished their bout better and won China’s first gold medal in the current AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Welterweight class (69 kg):

China’s defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Gu Hong eliminated Azerbaijan’s Maryam Jabrayilova and Finland’s Elisa Gustafsson in the recent two rounds but she had such a super talented opponent in the final as Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova who defeated her rivals by large margin of differences. The Chinese boxer was effective in the opening round while Khalzova controlled the middle part of their bout. The third and fourth rounds were real promotion of the fighting spirit and after the final bell the judges picked Khalzova as the winner of the Welterweight class (69 kg).

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):

China’s strong favourite Yang Xiaoli is the defending AIBA Women’s World Champion in the category who was seeded as No.1 in Astana. The Chinese boxer, who trains in the Fujian region of the country, eliminated three tough boxers in the road to the finals. The Chinese boxer’s final opponent was Australia’s surprise Kaye Scott who moved up the weight class only this year but fought only with 77 kg. Yang tried to control their bout from the first seconds while the Aussie boxer used counter-attacks with her great footwork. The Chinese boxer followed her fighting tactic and defeated her rival which means she is now two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion and claimed Asia’s fifth gold medal in Astana.

Heavyweight class (+81 kg):

Kazakhstan’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Lazzat Kungeibayeva who was seeded as No.2 at the Heavyweight class (+81 kg) and defeated one of her main rival China’s ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Wang Shijin in the semi-final. The Kazakh boxer had to box for the gold medal with US National Champion Shadasia Green who is a quick athlete in the category. The US boxer began the bout better with her speed but she could not continue the same frequency until the final round and Kungeibayeva was better and better in each rounds. The host nation’s athlete had a big heart in the last two rounds and she was able to turn back their hectic bout which was Kazakhstan’s fourth gold medal in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.