AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships – Semi-finals

Ten Asian boxers advanced to the finals of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

After the rest day the semi-finals were held in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships finished in Astana, Kazakhstan where out of the 16 Asian medallists ten advanced to the finals. Among the Asian nations China, Kazakhstan, Thailand and India have got finalists in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Light Flyweight class (48 kg):

Wang Yuyan replaced defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion E Naiyan in the national team and had a great triumph against Italy’s Valeria Calabrese and Philippines’ Josie Gabuco who was AIBA Women’s World Champion in 2012. The Chinese boxer shocked her US star rival Marlen Esparza in the first round with her massive shots and quick attacks. Wang tried to keep the distance and she had difficulties only in the fourth round but her advantage was enough to go through to the finals.
Kazakhstan’s defending AIBA Women’s World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay moved back to her original weight class and after her preliminary successes she defeated with one of her main rival India’s Sarjubala Shamjetsabam Devi in the quarter-finals which was the repeat match of the final of the last edition in Jeju. Kyzaibay was careful in the opening round against DPR Korea’s ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships silver medallist U Yong Gum who had a dangerous southpaw style. Kyzaibay tried to follow her tactic until the final bell and her smart boxing delivered for her a place in the final.

Flyweight class (51 kg):

Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Peamwilai Laopeam was too strong for Morocco’s AIBA African Olympic Qualification Event winner Zohra Ez-Zahraoui and Poland’s Baku 2015 European Games silver medallist Sandra Drabik in the previous rounds. She was confident in the first round against France’s Sarah Ourahmoune and used her longer reach in the opening minutes. The Thai boxer had difficulties in the third round but her stamina was enough to beat her tough French rival in Astana where her next opponent will be Great Britain’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams who eliminated Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova in the last four.

Bantamweight class (54 kg):

China’s Liu Piaopiao replaced Si Haijuan in the national team but proved she is a strong favourite at the Bantamweight class (54 kg). The Chinese boxer eliminated Mongolia’s former ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag and India’s former AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Nikhat Zareen in the previous rounds. The Chinese boxer’s next rival was Kazakhstan’s Dina Zholaman who was seeded as No.2 in the category. The Chinese boxer used her longer reaches in the first round but the Kazakh youngster found the best fighting distance and the tactic in the second. Zholaman dominated the third and fourth rounds and after Kyzaibay she advanced to the final of the championships.

Featherweight class (57 kg):

Kazakhstan’s new national team member Aizhan Khodzhabekova eliminated Ukraine’s young talent EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Maryna Malovana and China’s Gao Meiling in the previous rounds with top performance. Her next rival in Astana was India’s Sonia Lather Singh who moved up one weight class in the recent month. The Indian boxer looked fresh and energetic in the first round and she worked well in the second as well. Lather Singh had the great decision moving up one category and she could control her fight until the final bell, defeating her Kazakh rival.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):

China’s Yang Wenlu won the gold medal at the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Wulanchabu and also in the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia a few months ago therefore she was the favourite of the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) in Astana. She defeated her main rival US teenage star Jajaira Gonzalez Great Britain’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sandy Ryan therefore she was the favourite against Australia’s Skye Nicolson as well. The Chinese boxer began the bout better and dominated the fight against the Aussie talent who was passive in the contest and did not find the best tactic against Yang Wenlu. The Chinese boxer will be fighting for the gold medal with Ireland’s Kellie Harrington.

Welterweight class (69 kg):

China’s defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Gu Hong eliminated Azerbaijan’s Maryam Jabrayilova in the quarter-final and the Chinese boxer try do her best in the next contest as well against Finland’s Elisa Gustafsson. The Chinese boxer’s tactic was based on counter-attacks which were successful in the first two rounds and she had enough power to keep the same level until the final bell which resulted for her a place in the final.
Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova eliminated Uzbekistan’s seeded Shakhnoza Nizamova in the previous round and she was confident also against Ireland’s Grainne Walsh in the quarter-final. The young Kazakh boxer tried to do her best against Germany’s Nadine Apetz and she controlled the first round successfully and her single jabs stopped her opponent’s attacks. Khalzova had a few problems in the second round but she was effective in the third once again which was enough to beat her European rival and advance to the finals.

Middleweight class (75 kg):

Chinese Taipei’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Chen Nien Chin is only 19 but she has got enough experiences to beat top rivals as well. Chen eliminated Brazil’s veteran Andreia Bandeira and Morocco’s AIBA African Olympic Qualification Event winner Khadija Mardi but US Olympic Champion Claressa Shields was too strong for the teenager.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):

China’s Yang Xiaoli is the defending AIBA Women’s World Champion in the category who was seeded as No.1 in Astana. The Chinese boxer eliminated Gabon’s Chimene Moulomba and Russia’s Liubov Pashina by large margin of differences but she had more difficult job in the semi-final when she met with experienced US hope Franchon Crews who was silver medallist in the 2012 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Both boxers received warnings from the Hungarian referee and tried to do their very best in the tactical contest. Yang used her height advantage successfully and advanced to the gold medal bout of the weight class. The Chinese boxer’s final opponent will be Australia’s Kaye Scott who moved up the weight class only this year.

Heavyweight class (+81 kg):

China’s ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Wang Shijin defeated Uzbekistan’s Guzal Ismatova and Hungary’s newcomer Agnes Marko in the road to the semi-finals where she had to meet with Kazakhstan’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Lazzat Kungeibayeva who was seeded as No.2 at the Heavyweight class (+81 kg). The taller Chinese boxer had great uppercuts in the first round and used her weight advantage as well to take the lead. Kungeibayeva had a good hook in the third when the Chinese boxer received a warning from the referee and she was able to turn back their bout. The Kazakh boxer will be fighting for the gold medal with US National Champion Shadasia Green.