Sabyrkhan becomes four-time winner at Asian Youth Boxing Championships in Astana
Torekhan Sabyrkhan successfully defended his men’s 67kg title yesterday at the ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships in Astana, becoming the host nation’s first athlete to win four gold medals at junior and youth level.
Standing between him and history was Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadazizbek Ismoilov, who proved to be his toughest opponent to date. However, a strong second round was a major factor in the decision going the way of Sabyrkhan.
His victory was the highlight in a fantastic day of competition for the hosts Kazakhstan, who won 11 gold medals. The first of these was won by Ayazhan Sydyk in the women’s 54kg against India’s Tamanna; and she was duly joined on the top of the podium by Ayazhan Yermek in the women’s 57kg final and Asian junior champion Tolganay Kassymkhan who toppled defending champion Nikita Chand from India in the women’s 60kg. Aleksey Khavantsev was the first men’s winner from the host nation to win, beating India’s Sagar Jakhar in the men’s 60kg final.
Kazakhstan would win four men’s titles in a row as Oner Seilkhan stopped Indian Priyanshu at the 71kg weight, Asian junior champion Sanzhar-Ali Begaliyev defeated Priyanshu’s compatriot Rahul Kundu at 75kg and Mukhammadaziz Zakirov denied a Kyrgyzstan gold via Madiyar Beksultanov in the men’s 80kg, following Sabyrkhan’s victory.
It was a strong start to the finals for India, who claimed three titles in the first four bouts. The opener saw Asian junior champion Brijesh Tamta defeat Tajikistan’s Muinkhodza Muminov in the men’s 48kg, shortly followed by Aryan’s men’s 51kg victory over Zafarbek Kamilov of Kyrgyzstan. Laxmi was then too strong in the women’s 50kg for Enkh-Amgalan Nomundari, winning via referee’s stoppage in the second round.
Two more medals followed for India in the thanks to Nisha in the women’s 52kg via victory against Kazakhstan’s Bagzhan Otynbay, while the experienced Yashwardhan Singh fended off Ruslan Gafurov of Tajikistan in the men’s 63.5kg.
Uzbekistan’s seven golds were split between light and heavy categories, with earlier wins for lighter boxers Sobirjon Tastanov in the men’s 54kg against Kyrgyzstan’s Amantur Dzhumayev, Jasmin Tokhirova in the women’s 48kg against Chinese Taipei’s Yang Yin Chi, Nodirbek Allaberganov in the men’s 57kg over Jordan’s Qais Eshish and Odinakhon Ismoilova against Indian Shrushti Sachin Sathe.
Akmaljon Isroilov later defeated Imangali Nurpeis from Kazakhstan in the men’s 86kg final and Khalimjon Mamasoliyev was victorious in the men’s 92kg decider over India’s Aryan.
Signing off Uzbekistan’s campaign was Sobirakhon Shakhobiddinova who claimed her third Asian title in a row by vanquishing Panar Seitkhankyzy in the women’s +80kg, having moved up from the junior ranks.
China would strike gold in the women’s 70kg final following the victory of Alimire Abudureyimu over Mariya Sidorenko from Kazakhstan, while Iran would claim a sole gold today thanks to Amir Esmaeili Vandaei who triumphed over Uzbek boxer Shakhzod Polvnov in the men’s +92kg final, becoming his country’s first Asian youth champion in seven years.
