Penang Pesta Tournament in Malaysia

Five Malaysian gold medals at the Penang Pesta Tournament
The Penang Pesta Tournament was held in the Northern part of Malaysia which is a traditional international event in the Southeast Asian region. The Malaysian Boxing Federation successfully conducted AIBA One Star Coaching Course during the Penang Pesta Tournament to raise the experiences of the professionals.
The Malaysian Boxing Federation hosted several events since September and it is among the Asian affiliated national associations which has got great strategic plan in the upcoming years. Penang, the venue of the international event, is famous of his curries and foods while the competition was also a strong one as a chilli.
Muhammad Sharif secured the first gold medal of the Penang Pesta Tournament at the Light Flyweight class where he was able to beat his teammate Tuan Muhamad Faizal in the final. Indonesia’s Emzee Louis Bangun eliminated Malaysia’s national team member Mohamed Azuwan Mohammed Nor in the semi-final and continued the winning path against Mohammed Hafizuddin Che Ros in the final of the Flyweight class (52 kg).
Bangun’s compatriot Supriadi is a young boxer but he could beat Malaysia’s Mohamed Saiful Idham Azuan in the semi-finals and Singapore’s Commonwealth Youth Games competitor teenager Prithiv Raaj Elansharan in the final of the Bantamweight class (56 kg). Supriadi reached his career highlight winning his first international tournament.
Muhammad Hafiz Deris returned with a gold for the host nation at the Lightweight class (60 kg) where he defeated his teammate Muhammad Hazizul Bin Sukor in the fourth final of the Penang Pesta Tournament. Thailand’s first gold medal was delivered by Jakkapath Panthai who defeated Indonesia’s veteran Miftah Rifai Lubis in the final while Hong Kong’s Yuen Man Chun claimed bronze medal in Penang.
Malaysia’s top boxers such as Muhammad Fuad Bin Mohamed Redzuan (49 kg) and Khir Akyazlan Bin Azmi (64 kg) did not enter in the Penang Pesta Tournament due their preparation to the AIBA Asian & Oceania Olympic Qualifiers but the host nation’s strong Eswaran Murali attended in the event. The experienced boxer eliminated his teammate Malaysian National Games winner 22-year-old Mohammed Khairol Bin Kalai in the semi-finals and he was also too smart for Indonesia’s Sandyarto Deno Feroza in the final of the Welterweight class (69 kg).
Kittisak Promchuay was quarter-finalist in the last edition of the Thailand National Championships but he was able to beat all of his rivals including Indonesia’s Jannes Siregar in the Penang Pesta Tournament. The last two gold medals of the Penang Pesta Tournament were achieved by Malaysian athletes such as Hashmil Hashrin at the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) and Adil Hafiz Fauzi at the Heavyweight class (91 kg).

Winners in Penang Pesta Tournament
49 kg: Muhammad Sharif, Malaysia
52 kg: Emzee Louis Bangun, Indonesia
56 kg: Supriadi, Indonesia
60 kg: Muhammad Hafiz Deris, Malaysia
64 kg: Jakkapath Panthai, Thailand
69 kg: Eswaran Murali, Malaysia
75 kg: Kittisak Promchuay, Thailand
81 kg: Hashmil Hashrin, Malaysia
91 kg: Adil Hafiz Fauzi, Malaysia