Paris Olympians shined in the Strandja Memorial Tournament on Day2
The women boxers opened their competition at the 75th edition of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Day2. Several of the Asian female stars, Olympians for Paris worked well to win their first contests in the Bulgarian capital.
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.
Algeria, Armenia, Austria, host Bulgaria, China, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan are the participating 28 countries in Sofia.
India’s Nikhat Zareen and Mongolia’s Yesugen Oyuntsetseg both claimed bronze medals at the recent Asian Games and qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The two-time Indian World Champion was the favourite of their contest but she had to do her very best until the last exchanges to win their battle by 3:2 split decision at the light flyweight (50kg).
The further favourites of the light flyweight (50kg) such as Thailand’s Asian Games silver medallist Chuthamat Raksat, China’s Wu Yu and Uzbekistan’s Asian U22 Champion Sabina Bobokulova all won their contests in the second day of boxing. The 20-year-old Uzbek eliminated a Tokyo Olympian Serbian, Nina Radovanovic with impressive attacks and she followed her coach, Mr. Ulugbek Baratov’s instructions.
The Mongolians sent their best line-ups to the Strandja Memorial Tournament and their bantamweight (54kg) boxer, the World Championships bronze medallist Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg bowed out a dangerous rival in her opener. France’s Romane Moulai is a European U22 Champion boxer in this weight class but the Mongolian was stronger rounds by rounds to win this fight.
Tajikistan’s Mizhgona Samadova was a surprise bronze medallist at the Asian Games and she has also the right to compete in the next Olympics. The best Tajik female boxer had a more experienced Irish opponent, Michaela Walsh, the Commonwealth Games winner, but Samadova’s aggressive tactics guaranteed her next sensational victory.
Thailand’s Preedakamon Tintabthai was bronze medallist at the 2022 Women’s World Boxing Championships but she joined the featherweight (57kg) only in the recent weeks. The Thai had a veteran rival from Mongolia, Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag and her dynamism delivered for Tintabthai a clear success in the session. Her compatriot, Thananya Somnuek also won her opener in Sofia, the lightweight (60kg) boxer was too strong for Poland’s Patrycja Borys.
India’s reigning World Champion Lovlina Borgohain lost to her Irish opponent at the women’s middleweight (75kg) on Day2 but her young teammate, Arundhati Choudhary opened her campaign better with a victory. The 21-year-old welterweight (66kg) boxer had a strong finish against France’s Emilie Sonvico which was enough to join the next round of boxing.
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