Mamatova, Kudaigenova and Yangiyeva defended their Asian women’s junior titles
Uzbekistan’s duo, Sevara Mamatova and Maftuna Yangiyeva, furthermore Kazakhstan’s Alina Kudaigenova defended their women’s junior titles in Al Ain today.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam were the participating 26 nations in the event.
Uzbekistan’s Maftuna Musurmonova was one of the titleholders among the female junior finalists and she found her best distance in the final of the pinweight (46kg) against India’s Joni in the second round. The smaller Indian landed great shots in the first round but the 16-year-old Uzbek came back to the final contest in time. The judges favoured the Indian in the last round therefore Joni defeated the titleholder Uzbek talent in Al Ain.
India’s Junior World Champion Payal had a tight success in the semi-finals and she started well against Kazakhstan’s Aiym Tankibayeva who achieved a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Junior Boxing Championships in Astana. The 16-year-old Kazakh moved forward more in the second round more but she stepped into Payal’s next fighting distance and the Indian claimed the title for her homeland.
Chinese Taipei’s defending Asian Junior Champion, Shen Sin Ai eliminated her Indian opponent, Bidya Devi Loitongbam in the semi-finals of the flyweight (50kg) and she tried to earn her second Asian title against Uzbekistan’s Nilufar Khamdamova. Shen was too static in the first and second rounds and Khamdamova used these opportunities to catch the titleholder of the championship. Shen made a fantastic finish with plenty of clear shots in the last round but the time was against her and she could not turn back the bout.
Following the first Uzbek gold medal in the entire championships, their Robiya Ravshanova met for the title India’s Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari at the light bantamweight (52kg). The Uzbek landed several nice hooks in the first round and she continued the same technician performance in the second to achieve her nation’s second gold medal. Pujari gave in everything in the critical third round but Ravshanova stopped her attacks effectively to win their final bout in Al Ain.
Tajikistan’s Junior World silver medallist Farinoz Abdulloyeva amazed all experts in her semi-final against Uzbekistan’s Farzuna Ruziyeva and she used the same tactics against India’s Amisha Kerketta at the bantamweight (54kg) final. Abdulloyeva was untouchable for the Indian in the first round and her counter-punches were the difference between them today. Abdulloyeva is Tajikistan’s first Asian female gold medallist in this age group and their next ace after Mavzuna Chorieva.
India’s Muskan won all of the three rounds against Kazakhstan’s Aiganym Kadyrkhan at the featherweight (57kg) semi-final and she started strongly also in her final bout. Ukraine’s Anna Koloturska was not enough competitive for the Indian today and she did not look fresh in the second and third rounds to make any U-turns in this bout. Following Joni and Payal, Muskan became the third Indian female junior girl gold medallist in Al Ain.
Uzbekistan’s Junior World Champion Sevara Mamatova is famous of her tough punches and she is one of the top names in the whole championships. The 16-year-old Uzbek was too strong for Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Vashchenko in the first round of the women’s lightweight (60kg) final when the referee counted her opponent. Vashchenko survived the most difficult moments but Mamatova won her next big title, her third within 10 months of time.
Following Sevara Mamatova’s second Asian junior title, Kazakhstan’s Alina Kudaigenova was also aimed for defending her title. The 16-year-old talent landed tough hooks against India’s Yogima Kalyan in the first round of their light welterweight (63kg) final and the Kazakh had the advantage in all of the scorecards. Kudaigenova, the woman in red, not only won their contest in Al Ain but she defended her throne in this junior weight class.
Uzbekistan’s Aselya Tulegenova defeated a top rival in the semi-finals of the welterweight (66kg), India’s Hanshika but she could expect a hard battle against Ukraine’s Sofiia Novikova who eliminated Kazakhstan’s 2023 Junior World Champion Aisulu Mukhit a few days ago. The Ukrainian was patient in the attacks while Tulegenova used her jabs with perfect timing but the first round looked extremely tight between the two youngsters. The Uzbek had great achievements this year and she performed well enough in the third to win this tough final.
Uzbekistan’s Khadijabonu Bekova and India’s Lakshu met in the final of the light middleweight (70kg) in the Bout No.10 today afternoon. Bekova came from a boxing family and she began the sport as a small child, she was enthusiast today but the Indian landed the stronger punches in the first round. Bekova exceeded her previous level of boxing and due to her last round, she was able to turn back this final against the powerful Indian.
Uzbekistan’s Maftuna Yangiyeva dominated her semi-final at the middleweight (75kg) against India’s Anshika Dabas and she had to meet Kazakhstan’s Zarina Tolybay for the title. The 16-year-old Uzbek defeated a Kazakh boxer in the last edition of the championships and she repeated that against Tolybay in the eleventh day of boxing. Yangiyeva was in different level today in all aspects of boxing and the Uzbek girl defended her throne. India’s Anshika and Uzbekistan’s Mavjuda Abdusaidova defeated their Ukrainian and Kazakh rivals in the semi-finals of the light heavyweight (80kg) and the battle between the two promising boxers. Abdusaidova won all of the three rounds due to her speed advantage and she claimed Uzbekistan’s seventh female junior gold medal in Al Ain. India’s Prachi Tokas won the last female final in the event, she defeated Kazakhstan’s Sabina Zhaksylyk at the heavyweight (+80kg).
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