The 23 female and 26 male semi-finals took place in the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan. Japan and India impressed in the female semi-finals, both have five finalists in the championships. Kazakhstan has nine finalists in the men’s competition ahead of Uzbekistan, Jordan and Thailand.

Tsukimi Namiki is Japan’s first finalist

Japanese Tsukimi Namiki was bronze medallist at the 2018 Women’s World Boxing Championships at the age of 20 and she developed rapidly in all aspects of the sport. The Japanese southpaw had a tough rival, Kazakhstanian two-time World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay but she was a hard target. Namiki was smaller than her Kazakh opponent but she worked from a longer distance in this semi-final and she won a hectic tactical bout which means the Japanese boxer joined the title contest.

“I am so happy that I could beat a World Champion today. My coaches said that I have to move a lot in this bout, not to stop and face the Kazakh, just work hard. I am expecting a hard final against the experienced Vietnamese boxer,” said Tsukimi Namiki

India’s first finalist is Lovlina Borgohain

Lovlina Borgohain from India is not only the Chairwoman of the IBA Athletes’ Committee but she is a fantastic boxer, one of the bests in their strong national team. The 25-year-old Indian achieved silver and bronze medals in her major championships and she is aiming for her first title in Amman. She eliminated former World Champion Valentina Khalzova from Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals and opened her semi-final bout better than South Korean Seong Su Yeon. The Indian made a good impression in this middleweight (75kg) semi-finals and advanced to her next Asian final after 2019. Borgohain’s final opponent will be Uzbekistanian 20-year-old Sokhiba Ruzmetova who turned back her contest against Philippines’ Thailand Open Tournament winner Hergie Bacyadan.

“I believe I made a good game play today and I am really satisfied with my performance. The opponent was a strong one but I followed Mr. Bhaskar Bhatt’s instructions not to let her get too close. This was my second contest at the middleweight, which is probably the best for me. I am expecting a difficult final,” said India’s Lovlina Borgohain

Aratake vs. Tashkenbay for the title of the minimumweight

Japanese Kazuma Aratake earned a silver medal at the ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships and had the strong motivation to reach his next final in Amman. The 20-year-old athlete faced a taller opponent, Pakistan’s historic medallist Zohaib Rasheed and tried different styles of boxing during the semi-final of the minimumweight (48kg). Aratake was better in all of the ranges and landed effective combinations to win the first semi-final of the day in Amman. The Japanese boxer faced an Uzbek rival in the ASBC Asian U22 final this January and now he will meet 19-year-old Sanzhar Tashkenbay from Kazakhstan for the gold.

“The boxer from Pakistan was strong, he had hard punches but I could manage this semi-final. I want to be a champion in Amman,” said Kazuma Aratake, who joined his second ASBC final in 2022.

Yomkhot and Al-Hindawi advanced to the finals at the cruiserweight

Erkin Adylbek Uulu from Kyrgyzstan earned his third Asian medal when he won his quarter-final at the cruiserweight (86kg). The 31-year-old Kyrgyz flag bearer had a Thai opponent in the last four, the Southeast Asian Games winner Jakkapong Yomkhot who used his stronger shots in the first round to take the lead on the scorecards. The Kyrgyz boxer tried to rule the middle of the ring but Yomkhot was faster and his impressive multiple shots were decisive in this semi-finals. The 27-year-old Thai will face Jordanian veteran Odai Riyad Al-Hindawi for the gold medal.

“I am expecting a very hard final battle in the final of the championship but I know that I have the skills to beat anyone,” said Jakkapong Yomkhot who reached his career highlight.

“I studied my opponent in the first round and maintained the best fighting distance therefore from the second, I was able to do much better,” said Odai Riyad Al-Hindawi.

Dream final at the men’s featherweight

Abdumalik Khalokov is one of the main stars of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Amman. The 22-year-old boxer moved down to the featherweight (57kg) and remained unbeaten this year during the preparation events. The smaller and younger Gantumur Lundaa of Mongolia attacked from the first seconds but he received counter-shots from Khalokov. The Uzbek silver medallist from the 2021 World Boxing Championships used up Lundaa’s faults and was too experienced for his 19-year-old opponent. Khalokov will now meet for the gold medal his main Asian rival, Serik Temirzhanov from Kazakhstan.

“It was my fourth contest in Amman and I believe I show better and better performance from fight to fight. I am opening my style and as I expected I will be able to meet Serik Temirzhanov in the final,” said Abdumalik Khalokov after the bout.

Aslonov and Iashaish are in the finals of the light heavyweight

Omurbek Bekzhigit Uulu from Kyrgyzstan is a native talent in our sport, he began the sport only in 2015 but after a few years of experiences he became a member of the national team. The 22-year-old Kyrgyz light heavyweight (80kg) boxer was quicker and landed more punches than Uzbekistan Odiljon Aslonov from Uzbekistan in the first and second rounds. His opponent launched the stronger punches and Aslonov’s last round was enough to beat the well-developed Kyrgyz boxer in this hectic semi-final. The Uzbek will now meet Jordanian Hussein Iashaish who turned back a top semi-final against Kazakhstanian Nurbek Oralbay.

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