The World Military Championships were held this year in Almaty, Kazashstan with the home nation claiming seven gold medals.

Kazakhstan topped the team rankings with their superb performance, while France, Mongolia and the Netherlands also claimed gold medals in Almaty.

Athlete of the tournament
AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kairat Yeraliyev became involved in Kazakhstan’s national team after the London 2012 Olympic Games, and Yeraliyev impressed on home territory, defeating Italy’s Beijing 2008 Olympian Alessio Di Savino in the last four en route to the gold medal match.

The 23-year-old boxer met with Algeria’s new hope in the final, the young Fahem Hammachi who shocked Mongolia’s London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist Tugstsogt Nyambayar in the semi-final of the championships.

After a gruelling final, it was Yeraliyev’s hand that was raised, but his North African opponent is also a boxer who showed a lot of potential in Almaty.

Team of the tournament
Kazakhstan were ranked number one in the last edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty, and in the same city they were able to continue their excellent form once again.

Olzhas Bayniyazov is a young hope in the Light Flyweight class (49 kg), and belied his tender years as he beat Russia’s National Champion Belik Galanov by unanimous decision.

Following his success, former AIBA Cadet World Champion Olzhas Sattibayev, Kairat Yeraliyev, Bekman Soilybayev, newcomer Bobirzhan Mominov and Kamshybek Konkabayev all won their weight classes in front of their home crowd.

Kazakhstan’s former Asian Junior Champion Askar Abdullayev delivered one of the best performances in the World Military Championships, when he defeated Italy’s rising star and Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Fabio Turchi in the Heavyweight class (91 kg).

Surprise of the tournament
Mongolia’s Battarsukh Chinzorig had a tremendous World Military Championships where he defeated some high ranked boxers.

The 22-year-old was too smart for Brazil’s AIBA World Champion and two-time Olympian Everton Lopes Dos Santos, and he continued his winning series against Russia’s Rabadan Ismailov, Morocco’s London 2012 Olympian Abdelhak Aatakni and Tunisia’s Beijing 2008 Olympian Alaa Shili.

Chinzorig was too quick for all of his rivals in Almaty, and his gold medal was a well-deserved result for the young star.

One to watch in the future
Netherlands’ lone competitor in the championships was Peter Mullenberg who claimed a valuable silver medal in the 2013 EUBC European Men’s Elite Continental Championships in Minsk.

The 26-year-old Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer defeated Brazil’s strong Michel Borges, Algeria’s Oran-based boxer Houna Bouziane and finally Kazakhstan’s former National Champion Arman Rysbek in the gold medal bout in Almaty.

Returning boxer of the tournament
France’s Alexis Vastine won a bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and also qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old Vastine returned to the world of boxing in recent months, and has plans to qualify for a third Olympic Games in Rio, 2016.

The Welterweight class (69 kg) boxer defeated Kazakhstan’s new power Sagadat Rakhmankulov in the semi-final, and walked over the gold medal bout against Russia’s defending EUBC European Continental Champion Aleksandr Besputin.

Stat/fact of the tournament
Kuwait claimed a medal in the World Military Championships which was a historical step in the Arabic nation’s boxing life.

Salem Al-Shammary advanced to the semi-final, where he was defeated by Kazakhstan’s Kamshybek Konkabayev, but this unexpected medal is his career highlight.

Sri Lanka also bagged a medal in Almaty which is a superb performance from the developing boxing nation.

Quote of the tournament
“I felt strong in the whole championships where there were a few tough athletes in my weight class, but I knew I could beat them. In the final against Kazakhstan’s Arman Rysbek my tactic was to stay at long distance and hit my opponent with clear jabs. I had to use a lot of footwork in the gold medal bout, and I felt in the final round I will win this bout in Almaty. I was hitting him in the whole contest with good punches,” commented Netherlands’ rising star Peter Mullenberg after his victory.

Gold medal winners in the World Military Championships
49 kg :   Olzhas Bayniyazov, Kazakhstan
52 kg : Olzhas Sattibayev, Kazakhstan
56 kg : Kairat Yeraliyev, Kazakhstan
60 kg : Bekman Soilybayev, Kazakhstan
64 kg : Battarsukh Chinzorig, Mongolia
69 kg : Alexis Vastine, France
75 kg : Bobirzhan Mominov, Kazakhstan
81 kg : Peter Mullenberg, Netherlands
91 kg : Askar Abdullayev, Kazakhstan
+91 kg : Kamshybek Konkabayev, Kazakhstan

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