Kyzaibay is aiming for her third World title in Nis where Khamidova made a history
Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay and Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova were the main heroes at the IBA Women’s Elite World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia during the semi-finals.
Nis is the third largest city in Serbia with the population of 260,000 with its suburbs and the administrative center of the Nisava District. Nis is a historic city, built by the time of the Roman Empire and it has a fortress, memorial park, chapels, monuments and other important sightseeing.
The women’s boxers are able to participate in all of the twelve official weight categories from the minimumweight (48kg) up to the heavyweight (+81kg) in Nis.
Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay has won already two World Championships’ titles in the smallest weight class and she has the chance to earn her third gold in Nis. She eliminated DPR Korea’s Hong Kyong Ryong at the minimumweight (48kg) while her compatriot, Alua Balkybekova also has done the same strong job against An Kum Byol at the light flyweight (50kg).
China’s Hu Meiyi made a small surprise in the quarter-finals of the light flyweight (50kg) when she eliminated Thailand’s ASBC Asian Champion Chuthamat Raksat. The 22-year-old Chinese had another Asian opponent, Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova and she used the same strategy to win this key semi-final in Nis.
DPR Korea’s Hong and An bagged bronze medals in Nis but their No.1, Pang Chol Mi controlled all of the three rounds against Uzbekistan’s Feruza Kazakova and she is a finalist once again after the 2018 edition.
Thailand’s defending ASBC Asian Champion at the featherweight (57kg), Punrawee Ruenros bowed out a top rival, Tajikistan’s strong Mizhgona Samadova on Day5 and she had another Asian opponent as next in the semi-finals, China’s Cai Yan. Ruenros is in amazing shape in this championship and she had the unpredictable movements to beat the 25-year-old Chinese in the last four.
Kazakhstan’s most promising boxer in the national team, Viktoriya Grafeyeva moved up to the lightweight (60kg) successfully and she is the defending ASBC Asian Champion. The 24-year-old Kazakh had a more experienced rival, Serbia’s ex-Russian Natalia Shadrina but she felt the tempo well enough to win this semi-final.
Thailand’s Thananya Somnuek joined the national squad in 2018 and she progressed step by steps in the recent years. The ASBC Asian U22 Champion faced with a regional rival in the semi-finals of the light welterweight (63kg) and she eliminated Vietnam’s Ha Thi Linh to secure her first ever world final.
Kazakhstan’s Aida Abikeyeva exceeded the expectations in Nis with a place in the finals following her superb performance against Russia’s Elena Babicheva. The two-time ASBC Asian Champion Navbakhor Khamidova became the first ever Uzbek girl who advanced to a final of a Women’s World Boxing Championships.
China’s new heavyweight (+81kg) sensation, Zhan Yilian eliminated Russia’s strong Maria Kuchmanova in the last eight and she met another European favourite, Turkey’s 38-year-old Elif Guneri. Zhan is in the heaviest weight class but her speed is extraordinary which was the key to beat the Turkish boxer in their semi-final on Day6.
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