Interview with Mr. Serik Sapiyev
Mr. Serik Sapiyev – Pavlodar delivered excellent championships for the Asian youth boxers
Kazakhstan’s last Olympic Games winner in boxing Serik Sapiyev was also visiting the last days of the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar. He was involved to the national team in 2004 and claimed his first AIBA World Boxing Championships title in 2005 which he repeated in 2007. The London 2012 Olympic Games winner boxer retired three and half years ago but working in the sport, supporting Kazakhstan’s future hopes.
– Mr. Sapiyev first of all, congratulations to your great boxing career. As a former boxer what is your opinion about the level of the bouts in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships?
– Thank you very much for your kind words. I think the level of the championships is excellent, not only in the ring but out of the bouts as well. I did not compete as youth or previously as we mentioned junior in an Asian event but this is always a great step for a boxer to fight in a continental competition.
– Could you please let us know your thoughts about the Kazakh youth boxers? Did you see big talents in the squad or from other nations?
– Kazakhstan has got great traditions in boxing and I hope these young talents will show the their bests in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Serik Temirzhanov dominated his final today and I think his future could be great in the upcoming years. Yes, I saw some great talents in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships especially from the Uzbek and from the Kazakh team but Japan, India and Korea also developed well.
– Kazakhstan has got already 11 qualified boxers for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. What do you expect from the team in the August’s event in Brazil?
– Yes, we have got now 11 quota places for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and I am expecting four medals from the team in Brazil. Bakhtiyar Artayev won the Welterweight class (69 kg) in 2004, Bakhyt Sarsekbayev in 2008 and me in 2012 so I hope Daniyar Yeleussinov will be our next hero in my former category.
– How do you feel about the Training Centre in Karagandy was named after you and the Serik Sapiyev Prizes Youth Tournament is a huge competition in Kazakhstan?
– The leaders of my region decided to name the sport complex after me short following my Olympic gold medal in London. The Serik Sapiyev Prizes Youth Tournament was the main selection competition for our 17-18 year-old boxers to this year’s competition and I am proud of that fact to see winners and runner-ups of my event here in Pavlodar.
– Could you please tell us more details about your current WSB work in boxing?
– I am trying to do my best as Manager of the Astana Arlans Kazakhstan WSB franchise. We are in the semi-finals and will be competing with British Lionhearts in London in the end of this month. We defeated Venezuela Caciques 9-1 in the Quarter-finals but some of the boxers did not deliver their top form so our job will be difficult in the WSB Semi-final.