The upcoming ASBC Asian Men’s & Women’s Elite Boxing Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates will be the highlight of this month. The first competition day is May 24 and the finals are scheduled for May 31.

Afghanistan, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen are registered to attend the competition.

Eight out of the ten defending male Asian champions as Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov (49kg), Amit Panghal (52kg), Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (56kg), Erdenebat Tsendbaatar (60kg), Bakhodur Usmonov (64kg), Bobo-Usmon Baturov (69kg), Kim Hyeong Kyu (91kg) and Bakhodir Jalolov (+91kg) are planning to participate in Dubai to defend their titles. Among the women, Philippines’ Josie Gabuco (48kg) and India’s Pooja Rani (75kg) will have the chance to increase the number of their gold medals.

Jordan’s Randa Abdelkhaleq claimed a bronze medal at the 2010 ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in the heavyweight and recently she decided to return to the competition after 11 years of a break as the oldest participant with her age of 38.

Her teammate in the men’s bantamweight (56kg), 18-year-old Fahad Ali could be the youngest participant of the whole event. Kazakhstan’s Daniyal Sabit is the National Champion at the men’s light flyweight (49kg) and he is one of the boxers in his team who will also turn 19 later this year.

Bahrain made its debut at the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships two years ago and now the country takes part in the new edition. The small island’s boxing life developed rapidly the recent three years and the country is ready also to host international competitions in the near future. Another developing nation, Yemen attended the 2019 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Bangkok and now the country is planning to send a team once again.

Jordan never competed with such a big delegation as they plan for the upcoming Dubai edition and their progress in women’s boxing is significant. Kuwait hosted the 2019 ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships and their elite team contains of a high number of boxers. At the very first time in the history of the competition, Kuwait plans to send women athletes to the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.

Kazakhstan’s Olympic Games silver medallist Vassiliy Levit won his first Asian title still in Zhuhai 12 years ago and he will be one of the veteran champions in Dubai. South Korea’s Kim Hyeong Kyu claimed his first continental gold medal in 2011 at the age of 19 and he has the chance to get his third title in the United Arab Emirates. Kyrgyzstan’s Azat Usenaliev is another veteran champion from 2013 who is in excellent physical conditions and named among the favourites of the men’s flyweight (52kg) once again.

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