Suwannapheng, Seyitbek Uulu and Villegas were the sensations of the quarter-finals in Paris

Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines all achieved their first medals in the eighth competition day at the Paris Olympic Games.

Thirteen weight categories, 248 top boxers, 124 female and 124 male athletes from 69 nations will compete in the boxing event of the Paris Olympics.

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, China, Chinese Taipei, India, the Philippines, Tajikistan, Jordan, Mongolia, South Korea, DPR Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan and Palestine will have boxers in the Olympic Games from the Asian continent.

Uzbekistan’s No.1 Abdumalik Khalokov had an easy success in the preliminary stage of boxing at the men’s featherweight (57kg) and he had the full focus against Spain’s Jose Quiles who eliminated Kazakhstan’s World Champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan. The Uzbek star remained unbeaten in this bout as well, his speed overmatched his Spaniard opponent therefore Khalokov is now a guaranteed medallist.

The next Uzbek boxer, the World Champion Asadkhudja Muydinkhudjayev prepared hard against Denmark’s European Games winner Nikolai Terteryan and he had the fantastic second and third rounds to beat his top rival. The 23-year-old Uzbek developed his physical skills into a new level during the preparations and he is now also a medallist in Paris.

China’s Wu Yu and Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat faced in the final of the Asian Games last October when the first won their meeting. The Chinese light flyweight (50kg) boxer knew the winning strategy against the Thai veteran and she repeated her performance to beat Raksat in their unique re-match.

Kazakhstan’s former two-time World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay prepared hard to the Olympics in the previous weeks and she was in top shape against Colombia’s veteran Ingrit Valencia. Her South American opponent was silver medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympics but Kyzaibay overcame her attacks efficiently to win a medal for Kazakhstan.

Thailand’s next female quarter-finalist, Janjaem Suwannapheng caused one of the top sensations in the Paris Olympics today when she defeated Turkey’s defending champion Busenaz Surmeneli at the women’s welterweight (66kg). The Turkish boxer has powerful punches but Suwannapheng was quicker and technically better on their repeat contest after the last World final.

The boxers at the women’s lightweight (60kg) are already in the semi-final stage of boxing and the first finalist in Paris is China’s Yang Wenlu, the Asian Games winner and the former World Champion. The Chinese boxer used the best angles to catch Chinese Taipei’s Wu Shih Yi in their semi-final bout and she has a chance to be an Olympic Champion in Paris.

Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek Seyitbek Uulu had an amazing success against Cuba’s Saidel Horta in the first preliminary round and he gave in 120% in his quarter-final bout against United States’ World Champion Jahmal Harvey. The US featherweight (57kg) boxer was the favourite of their quarter-final but Seyitbek Uulu had the smart boxing today and he became Kyrgyzstan’s first ever medallist in the Olympic boxing history.

Following Carlo Paalam’s unexpected loss, the Philippines finally earned a boxing medal in the Paris Olympics. Their Aira Villegas exceeded all of the expectations against France’s Wassila Lkhadiri in the quarter-finals of the women’s light flyweight (50kg) and her impressive stamina delivered a 3:2 split decision success and a medal for her.

Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin, the former World Champion, finally succeeded in her third Olympic Games and secured a guaranteed medal in Paris. Chen won her third contest in the Games and she had the strong performance in the first and third rounds to beat Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova at the women’s welterweight (66kg). She will now meet with her old rival, China’s Yang Liu in the semi-finals which could be the next exciting moment of the Olympics.

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