The 2nd World Qualification Tournament commenced today in the capital of Thailand, featuring 578 athletes from 132 countries, along with the Boxing Refugee Team. Running from May 24th until June 2nd, this event is the final opportunity for boxers to qualify for this summer’s Olympics. There are 51 Paris 2024 quota places available, with 23 spots for women and 28 for men.
The Indoor Stadium Huamark, originally built for the 5th Asian Games in Bangkok, will host the tournament. On the opening day, a total of 45 bouts took place during the afternoon and evening sessions, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling competition.
The action began with Azerbaijan’s Shamil Askerov securing the first victory of the tournament in the Men’s 57kg category, defeating Hong Kong China’s Sing Yu Tso in a commanding 4-1 points decision. In the same event class, Rio 2016 silver medallist Yoel Finol of Venezuela had a day to forget as Aider Abduraimov of Ukraine outclassed him with a brilliant combination of power and technique that left no chance for his opponent.
Caleb Josue Tirado Pagan (PUR), Van Duong Nguyen (VIE), Armando Rogoberto Sigauque (MOZ), and Munarbek Seitbek Uulu (KGZ) were convincing winners in the round-of-64 of the Men’s 57 kg class, all overcoming their opponents with a sharp 5-0.
Davule Jone (FIJ) and Victor Tremblay (CAN) withdrew from their bouts, handing walkover wins to Mwengo Mwale of Zambia and Farid Walizadeh of the Boxing Refugee Team, respectively.
The home crowd in Bangkok erupted in joy as Thailand’s Peerapat Yeasungnoen, the first Thai boxer to step into the ring, triumphed with a 5-0 victory over Venezuela’s Juan Cedeno in the Men’s 71kg category.
In the same weight division, Austria’s Marcel Meinl had a tough day as the referee stopped his match in the middle of the third round at 1:42. His opponent, Yassine Elouarz from Morocco, delivered powerful blows that were too difficult to manage for the 23-year-old Austrian boxer.
Gurgen Madoyan (ARM), Jorge Cuellar (CUB), and Eskerkhan Madiev (GEO) also advanced in the Men’s 71 kg class, each securing their victories with a flawless 5:0 unanimous decision. Their dominant performances demonstrated their superior skill and strategy, allowing them to move confidently into the next round of the competition.
Team USA could be proud of Alyssa Mendoza’s performance, as she threw plenty of punches to secure a maximum points victory over Mongolia’s Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag in the Women’s 57kg event. After missing the opportunity to achieve the Olympic quota at the Pan American Games and the 1st World Qualifier in Busto Arsizio, Italy, the American boxer must give her all in this final phase of the Boxing Road to Paris qualification pathway to win her ticket to the Games.
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Carlo Paalam (PHI) remains in the running for a Paris 2024 quota slot. In the Men’s 57kg weight category match against Alexei Lagkazasvili (GRE), he showcased his dominance, attacking the face of his Greek opponent to secure a 5-0 unanimous decision victory.
The 2024 European Championships bronze medallist Samuel Kistohurry (FRA) didn’t lose his opportunity to advance in the tournament, outclassing George Molwantwa of Botswana with a 5-0 unanimous decision victory.
In the Women’s 66 kg class, Brigitte Mbabi (COD) picked up the pace and started the tournament strong by defeating her first opponent, Saida Lahmidi of Morocco, by RSC (Referee Stopped Contest) in Round 2. Her decisive victory showcased her impressive skills and set a positive tone for her journey through the competition.
The judges declared Cheng Wei Lee of Chinese Taipei the winner via a 4-1 split decision over Prasanna Podi Arachchige (SRI). With a patient and defensive approach, Lee secured a spot in the upcoming round, where he will face Wasim Abusal of Palestine, who bested Amram Christon (NRU) with a 3:2 split decision victory.
The 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Thailand will continue tomorrow, May 25, with two sessions, the first starting at 13:00 and the second at 18:30 (Bangkok local time).
Stay tuned for the latest updates, photos, and results, which will be posted online on the Athlete 365 Boxing Corner website at the tournament page.
Find additional information about the event on the Thai Boxing Association website.
