Tashi Wangdi is the new sensation from Bhutan causing a big surprise in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament

The third preliminary day was held in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament where 38 contests were in the official program. The developing boxing nations such as Bhutan, Malaysia, and New Zealand also shined on Day3 in Bangkok. The main surprise of the day was delivered by Bhutan’s Tashi Wangdi at the men’s light flyweight (49kg).
The number of the boxers in the competition is altogether impressive 247 from 32 different nations of all of the five Confederations. Among the 247 participants, 98 are women boxers and 149 male athletes are attending in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament. Fourteen champions will be crowned in the day of the finals on July 27.
Most of the participating nations are using the Thailand Open Boxing Tournament as the last selection and preparation before the upcoming AIBA World Boxing Championships and AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

DPR Korea’s teenage sensation Won Un Gyong
DPR Korea’s Won Un Gyong was AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion in 2015 at the age of 14 and she claimed gold medal also in the 2018 ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Youth Boxing Championships. Won, who will be turning to 19 only later this year, had a strong success in the first preliminary round but she increased that level on Day3. She had a seriously strong opponent China’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Yin Junhua but the North Korean teenager exceeded her previous level. Won felt the best fighting distance in their meeting and eliminated one of the main gold medal contenders of the featherweight (57kg). Won will be meeting in the quarter-finals with Philippines’ No.1 Nesthy Petecio who controlled her bout against Mongolia’s Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag.

World class contests at the women’s lightweight (60kg)
Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sudaporn Seesondee had to meet with her teenage compatriot Youth Olympic Games silver medallist and ASBC Asian Youth Champion Porntip Buapa at the lightweight (60kg). The younger Buapa tried to use her technical style to keep the best fighting distance but Seesondee was more experienced and it was decided their contest today. Following their world class bout AIBA Women’s World Champion Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei met with China’s ASBC Asian Champion Yang Wenlu. Lin used her longer reach well in their meeting and eliminated the tough Chinese boxer using her jabs successfully.

Thailand’s Wuttichai Yurachai eliminated Philippines’ top boxer Carlo Paalam on Day3
Philippines’ Carlo Paalam was bronze medallist in the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and the 21-year-old talent was the titleholder of the light flyweight (49kg) in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament as well. His first opponent was a top one, Thailand’s Wuttichai Yurachai who won the Cologne Boxing World Cup in Germany this April. Carlo Paalam started slightly better but Yurachai came back to the bout with good shots in the second round and remained his chance alive before the final period. Thailand’s experienced national team member was tactically strong in the last round and eliminated his tough rival advancing to the last eight in Bangkok.

Strong Malaysian start in the third competition day
Malaysia’s best boxer Southeast Asian Games winner Muhamad Fuad Bin Mohamed Redzuan is member of the national team since 2009 therefore he was more experienced internationally than China’s Yang Ziwei. The Malaysian light flyweight (49kg) boxer was quicker than his Chinese opponent and eliminated a competitive rival in Bangkok. His teammate Arfiqanie Bin Ahmad Anshori secured Malaysia’s second success in the third competition day following his clear dominancy over Hong Kong’s Lee Kong Ching. Both Malaysians have been preparing to the upcoming Southeast Asian Games which is their next big milestone in their careers.

Bhutan’s Tashi Wangdi delivered the main sensation of Day3
Bhutan sent huge delegation to the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament to Bangkok and their best hope Tashi Wangdi delivered one of the main sensations of the third competition day. Bhutan’s 23-year-old hope shocked his opponent Kazakhstan’s Askhat Zhussupov in the first round and took the lead on the scorecards. Wangdi’s hooks worked well in their contest and the Kazakh talent did not find the best tactical solution against to the attack of the boxer from Bhutan. Wangdi was able to keep his level until the end of the final gong and eliminated the Kazakh favourite with sensational attitude.

Morocco’s Mohamed Hamout eliminated the Thai titleholder at the men’s lightweight (60kg)
Morocco’s best boxer Rio 2016 Olympian Mohamed Hamout is member of the national squad since 2013 and he was named as one of the top African athletes in 2019. The Moroccan lightweight (60kg) boxer had to meet with Thailand’s defending champion in the event Anu Srithep on Day3. Both boxers landed tough punches already in the first round which was a spectacular one in Bangkok. Hamout increased his tempo in the second round and surprised the Thai boxer with his effectiveness and tactical weapons. The Moroccan boxer answered strongly to all Thai attacks and eliminated the titleholder in Bangkok.

India’s Ashish Kumar defeated his Thai rival at the middleweight (75kg) with strong performance
India’s Ashish Kumar was involved to the national team at the middleweight (75kg) only this year but he quickly achieved a silver medal at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. Following their Commonwealth Games winner and Asian Games gold medallist star Vikash Krishan Yadav finished his amateur career, Ashish Kumar can show his excellent technical skills in the international competitions. Kumar tried to use his longer reach from the first seconds against Thailand’s A team member Aphisit Kanankhokkruea. The Indian boxer produced an excellent third round which meant Kumar will be able to continue his campaign in the quarter-finals.

Uzbekistan’s Fanat Kakhramonov and Kazakhstan’s Yermakhan Zhakpekov met in an early final on Day3
Uzbekistan’s Fanat Kakhramonov replaced Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Champion Israil Madrimov in the national team at the middleweight (75kg). The new Uzbek national team member competed mainly in smaller events in the recent two years internationally but he impressed in his debut at the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament. Kakhramonov was slightly better than Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Yermakhan Zhakpekov in the opening round. Both boxers increased their tempo in the second round but the older Uzbek was effective in that period. Zhakpekov landed an impressive shot in the third but he was not able to turn back their fight.

The New Zealanders impressed in the middleweight (75kg) on Day3
New Zealand’s Ryan Scaife competed in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and he decided to return to the sport after a short break to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The Kiwi middleweight (75kg) boxer represent the OCBC Oceanian Team in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament in Bangkok and dominated his fight against Pakistan’s Tanveer Ahmed winning it by RSC. His teammate Emile Richardson represents the New Zealand Team and he has done also a superb work against Nepal’s Deepak Shrestha. The 22-year-old Kiwi produced a superb second round when the referee counted the South Asian boxer twice. Nepal’s Asian Games competitor survived those dangerous moments but Richardson won their contest by large margin of differences.

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