Uzbek boxers make a record by earning 10 gold medals at Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships

Uzbekistan dominated the last day of boxing in Kuwait City where their boxers, including future stars Umidillo Abdurasulov and Dalerjon Bozorov, achieved 10 out of the 14 titles. India and Kazakhstan both claimed two gold medals in the competition where finally 15 nations earned at least one bronze.

ASBC President and AIBA Vice-President Mr. Anas Alotaiba followed the bouts in the fifth day of the event in Kuwait City together with ASBC Vice President Mr. Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim, ASBC EC members and President of the Kuwait Boxing Federation Mr. Mohammed Mensi Al-Enezi. Altogether 150 boxers from 21 nations competed for the medals and titles in Kuwait City’s Shaikh Al-Abdullah Sports Complex.
The ASBC Asian Schoolboys Confederation Boxing Championships is a new milestone in our continent and it was held at the first time. Boxers who were born in 2005 and in 2006 were eligible to compete in the event for the 14 available titles.

Uzbekistan won the first historical title in the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships
Uzbekistan’s Khumoyunmirzo Abdurasulov defeated Kazakhstan’s Pavel Tokarev in the quarter-finals and Turkmenistan’s Daniyar Rozmetov in the semi-finals of the competition. The Uzbek boxer met in the final with Kyrgyzstan’s Bekzat Ergeshov who had a tough semi-final against Philippines’ Robert Malunoc. Abdurasulov was hard target for the Kyrgyz boxer who could not catch him in the ring therefore Uzbekistan claimed the historical first gold medal in the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships.

Uzbekistan’s second gold was achieved by Mahmudov at the 37kg weight class
India’s Aryan eliminated Philippines’ Joshua Sorillo in a tough quarter-final in the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships and the 14-year-old talent had another top opponent in the semi-finals, Kazakhstan’s Damir Baipakov. Aryan managed to win his semi-final but for the gold he had to face with Uzbekistan’s Hojiakbar Mahmudov who controlled his semi-final fight against Tajikistan’s Ruslan Gafurov. Mahmudov was taller than his Indian opponent and landed nice jabs from safe distance in the first round of their battle. Aryan worked also well enough on feet but his Uzbek opponent was more effective in their final.

Uzbekistan’s third gold medal was taken by their youngest team member Farrukh Tulaganov
Uzbekistan’s youngest team member Farrukh Tulaganov is only 13 but he won all of his contests this year in each competition. The Uzbek was amazing in his first contest but following that he had seriously hard road to the finals. Tulaganov had to face for the gold medal with Turkmenistan’s most experienced boxer Alisher Orazbayev who had strong RSC triumph in the previous stages. The 14-year-old boxer from Turkmenistan controlled the first round but his Uzbek opponent was able to turn back their narrow final in Kuwait City achieving his nation’s third title.

Uzbekistan’s Umidillo Abdurasulov dominated the final of the 43kg weight class
Uzbekistan’s two-time Schoolboys National Champion Umidillo Abdurasulov bowed out Kazakhstan’s Bakhtiyar Anarbayev in a superb semi-final which was one of the best matches of the fourth competition day. The promising Uzbek had to meet with Turkmenistan’s Dovlet Nurmuradov in the final of the historical event. Turkmenistan sent small teams to the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships but four of their boxers advanced to the semi-finals and two into the finals in Kuwait City. Abdurasulov determined that he is the better boxer already in the first round and dominated the second with his quicker punches which delivered for him a well-deserved gold medal.

Uzbekistan’s fifth-in-a-row title was earned by Bobojonov at the 46kg
Uzbekistan’s Boburbek Bobojonov has got string family connections to boxing and following he bowed out Kazakhstan’s Darkhan Nurzhigit in the semi-finals, he was highly confident in the final against Philippines’ most experienced team member Raymond Lofranco. The Filipino boxer eliminated Thailand’s high hope Phisit Paochanthuek in a hectic semi-final on Day4. The Uzbek boxer was started their contest better and landed strong punches but Lofranco had the strong fighting spirit to adopt the world class level fight. Bobojonov launched a tough jab in the second when the referee counted the Filipino therefore the Uzbek was able to win their final in Kuwait City.

Uzbekistan’s Lazizbek Tulkinov and India’s Vinay Vishwakarma are the finalists at the 49kg weight class
Uzbekistan’s Lazizbek Tulkinov eliminated Kazakhstan’s Sultan Moldash in a key semi-final at the 49kg weight class when he showed his best ever performance. The Uzbek boxer was taller than his final Indian opponent and used his longer reach and hands well enough in the first round. Vinay Vishwakarma was not enough confident against the Uzbek how he has done during the road to the finals. The Indian landed a few nice punches but the bout was controlled by Tulkinov with his excellent footwork.

Uzbekistan’s Dalerjon Bozorov amazed in the final of the 52kg weight class
Uzbekistan’s two-time Schoolboy National Champion Dalerjon Bozorov made the show against Tajikistan’s Shakhboz Dadajonov in the semi-finals of the 52kg weight class. The best Uzbek boxer was confident, motivated and hungry for his next success against Kyrgyzstan’s Schoolboy National Champion Amangeldi Maksutov in the final. The Kyrgyz was satisfied with his place in the final and he was not able to repeat his previous performance against the technician Uzbek. The virtuoso Bozorov controlled all of the rounds and his next superb performance delivered the seventh gold medal for Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Narziev defeated his Indian rival in the final at the 55kg weight category
Uzbekistan’s Zirve Children Games gold medallist Jakhongir Narziev dominated his semi-final fight against Iran’s Alireza Baratalipour Farkhani on Day4. In the final of the 55kg weight class he started strongly against India’s Preet Malik who has got previous connections to boxing and following his Sub-Junior National title he impressed in the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships in Kuwait City. The Indian 55kg boxer was a competitive rival for Narziev but Malik received tough punches in the opening two rounds. The young Indian gave in everything in the third but he was not able to turn back their final.

India’s first gold medal was achieved by their team captain Yashwardhan Singh
India’s Yashwardhan Singh dominated all of the three rounds against Palestine’s new sensation Zaid Mohammad Atef Shkokani in the semi-final and started his final against Uzbekistan’s Abdulaziz Abdurakhmonov strongly. The Indian boxer did not deliver his peak performance in the final but his Uzbek rival also looked tired in the last day of the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships. Singh had strong stamina in their contest and he was able to break Uzbekistan’s impressive dominancy getting a gold medal in Kuwait City and the best boxer trophy.

Uzbekistan’s Nekboyev won the gold at the 61kg weight class
Uzbekistan’s Mirzob Nekboyev claimed only silver medal in their Schoolboys National Championships but he is already a finalist in Kuwait City. The Uzbek boxer eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s Bayel Samidin Uulu in the semi-final with top performance. The Uzbek talent used his height as a weapon against Kazakhstan’s Viktor Litvinov and controlled the first round with his longer reach. Litvinov was not enough strong in their final therefore the Uzbek was able to win their title bout in Kuwait City.

Shavkatjon Boltayev dominated the final of the 64kg weight class
Uzbekistan’s Shavkatjon Boltayev eliminated Kazakhstan’s Zhandos Yersultanov in an early final on Day4 which bout was the best yesterday. The 14-year-old Uzbek was slightly better than the Kazakh but in the final he has done much better against India’s Gaurav Saini. Boltayev was quicker than his Indian opponent and demoralized Saini in the first round with his skills. The Uzbek caught Saini in the third round and the referee counted the Indian which meant Boltayev won their final by large margin of differences.

Kazakhstan’s Seitenov defeated his Uzbek rival at the 67kg weight class
Kazakhstan’s Batyrkhan Seitenov eliminated one of his main rivals India’s Beniwal Naksh in the semi-final of the 67kg weight class. The Kazakh Schoolboys National Champion was highly confident following his semi-final contest and caught Uzbekistan’s Shakhboz Khamidullaev quickly in the first round of the final with tough punches. Seitenov felt the support of his teammates and controlled the second round but delivered his very best in the third against the exhausted Uzbek. The final verdict was unanimous decision in the favour of Seitenov who claimed Kazakhstan’s first title in Kuwait City.

Joon Bharat claimed India’s second gold medal in Kuwait City
India’s Joon Bharat delivered a small surprise in the semi-finals of the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships when he was able to eliminate Uzbekistan’s Aynazar Kenesbayev. The Indian boxer was taller than his final opponent Kyrgyzstan’s Atay Asanbekov who eliminated Iran’s last hope Alireza Shabgarnia with tough performance in the semi-finals. The Indian tried to keep the best fighting distance against the small Kyrgyz and used his massive long hands. Asanbekov gave in everything in their contest, ruled the middle of the ring but the Indian counter-attacks decided their final.

Kazakhstan’s second gold medal was claimed by Yerdos Sharipbek at the heavyweight (+70kg)
Kazakhstan’s Schoolboys National Champion Yerdos Sharipbek knocked out Turkmenistan’s 194cm tall Bogdan Konstantinov in the semi-final of the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships advancing to the final of the competition. His Indian opponent Randeep surprisingly eliminated Uzbekistan’s Khusanboy Rikhsiboev in the last four but following the Kazakh boxer’s KO success, he was not enough brave in the final. Sharipbek dominated their final, controlled all of the rounds against the Indian and claimed Kazakhstan’s second gold medal in Kuwait City.

List of the winners in the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships
 35kg: Khumoyunmirzo Abdurasulov, Uzbekistan
 37kg: Hojiakbar Mahmudov, Uzbekistan
 40kg: Farrukh Tulaganov, Uzbekistan
 43kg: Umidillo Abdurasulov, Uzbekistan
 46kg: Boburbek Bobojonov, Uzbekistan
 49kg: Lazizbek Tulkinov, Uzbekistan
 52kg: Dalerjon Bozorov, Uzbekistan
 55kg: Jakhongir Narziev, Uzbekistan
 58kg: Yashwardhan Singh, India
 61kg: Mirzob Nekboyev, Uzbekistan
 64kg: Shavkatjon Boltayev, Uzbekistan
 67kg: Batyrkhan Seitenov, Kazakhstan
 70kg: Joon Bharat, India
 +70kg: Yerdos Sharipbek, Kazakhstan