Kharkhuu, Muzaffarov and Tashkenbay eliminated top rivals in Sofia
The last part of the quarter-finals featured in the sixth day at the 75th edition of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, China, Tajikistan, Iran, and Mongolia all had outstanding performances in the competition day.
Altogether 83 women and 178 men boxers are participating in the new edition of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in six female and 13 male weight categories.
India’s Amit Panghal proved his potential once again in the Bulgarian capital, the former Asian Games winner was too strong for Mongolia’s Battulga Aldarkhishig at the flyweight (51kg) quarter-final. The Indian was smaller than his Mongolian opponent but he managed to win this contest from longer range and speedy attacks.
Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay, the minimumweight (48kg) World Champion, faced a veteran Mongolian, the 10-years-older Gan-Erdene Gankhuyag in the quarter-finals. The 20-year-old Kazakh used his unpredictable movements and his brilliant counter-punches decided their contest in Sofia.
Uzbekistan’s Olympic Games winner Hasanboy Dusmatov walked over to the semi-finals following his Armenian opponent, Davit Yegoryan was unable to box in the sixth day. Dusmatov’s young teammates such as the Asian U22 Champion Asilbek Jalilov (51kg), Khujanazar Nortojiyev (54kg)and Dilshod Abdumurodov (60kg) all advanced to the semi-finals in the Bulgarian capital.
Uzbekistan’s 2021 Youth World Champion Shakhzod Muzaffarov had a Tokyo Olympian opponent from Iran, Daniyal Shakhbakhsh but he had the technical skills to win their featherweight (57kg) contest. Uzbekistan’s No.1, Abdumalik Khalokov competes at the lightweight (60kg) this time in Sofia but he had all of the technical advantage to beat Kazakhstan’s Ruslan Kuzeubayev.
Mongolia’s Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu, the 2021 Asian Champion, had some poor years following his top achievement but he is on full focus to boxing again and he demonstrated his stamina on Day6. His opponent from Kazakhstan, Orazbek Assylkulov, was the hero of the 2023 Strandja Memorial Tournament but the veteran Mongolian defeated him in the afternoon session.
Tajikistan’s Asror Vokhidov, the 2011 Junior World Champion, is also back on track as many of the Asians, and the experienced boxer defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Bayaman Azizbek Uulu at the lightweight (60kg). Uzbekistan’s Adkhamjon Mukhiddinov, Kazakhstan’s Dulat Bekbauov, and China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan all impressed in the day. Iran’s Ali Habibinezhad moved back to the light welterweight (63.5kg) but he had the strength to eliminate Moldova’s Alexandru Paraschiv. His teammate, Moslem Maghsoudi has five years of international experience and he that routine supported him to eliminate one of the top Bulgarians, Rami Kiwan at the light middleweight (71kg).
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