Sixteen Asians won the titles at the 76th Strandja Memorial Tournament
Six female and ten Asian male boxers won gold medals at the 76th edition of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. The sixteen Asian gold medals have been shared between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and Chinese Taipei in the Bulgarian capital.
The Strandja Memorial Tournament is Bulgaria’s main international competition and the oldest elite event worldwide therefore such strong nations as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Chinese Taipei, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and many others were there.
Chinese Taipei’s Asian silver medallist Wu Shih Yi used her long distance tactics to beat Kazakhstan’s Aidana Zabynbekova in her new category, at the featherweight (57kg). Her teammate, the former World Champion Chen Nien Chin landed the stronger shots than Greece’s Elisavet Konstantinidou and she claimed the second title for Chinese Taipei.
China’s World Champion Yang Liu had a closer final bout than she expected but her technical skills were enough to beat Turkey’s Berfin Kabak. A veteran Chinese star, Li Qian returned to the competitions with a success against Greece’s Vasiliki Stavridou while the third gold medallist from her country was Bu Ridu at the women’s light heavyweight (81kg).
Kazakhstan’s former World Champion Lazzat Kungeibayeva met her main national rival, the Youth World Champion Dina Islambekova at the women’s heavyweight (+81kg) final. Their repeat match delivered the veteran Kungeibayeva’s success in the last exciting female title contest in Sofia.
Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Muzaffarov had a tough bantamweight (54kg) final bout against Kazakhstan’s Timur Kabdeshov but due to his last round, he managed to win the contest. The next Uzbek, Khujanazar Nortojiyev proved his strong development and he had another successful game play against Azerbaijan’s Zalimkhan Suleymanov.
The Asian Games competitor Yertugan Zeinullinov won the Kazakh battle against Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbay Uulu at the light welterweight (63.5kg). The youngest team member in Kazakhstan, the super talented Torekhan Sabyrkhan won his first elite competition, he controlled the welterweight (67kg) final against Azerbaijan’s Zaur Gakhramanov.
The three-time World bronze medallist Ablaikhan Zhussupov won the next Kazakhstan vs. Kazakhstan final against Farrukh Tokhtassynov. His teammates as Sabyrzhan Akkalykov (75kg) and Bekzad Nurdauletov (86kg) walked over to the gold medals in Sofia.
The Uzbeks won the heavier weight categories at the Strandja Memorial, firstly Fazliddin Erkinboyev outpointed Yerassyl Zhakpekov at the light heavyweight (80kg). The ASBC Asian Champion Turabek Khabibullayev was too strong for Greece’s Vagkan Nanitzanian while their Jakhongir Zokirov made a revenge to Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay on their super heavyweight (+92kg) re-match.
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