Today featured a total of 10 exciting semifinals in the Women’s 57kg, 66kg, Men’s 51kg, 57kg, and 80kg categories, as well as five finals in the Women’s 54kg, 75kg, 60kg, Men’s 63.5kg, and 71kg divisions of the 19th Asian Games boxing tournament, which has been taking place at the Hangzhou Gymnasium from September 24 to October 5.
Five Champions Crowned Today at the Asian Games’ Boxing Tournament
In the Women’s 54kg category final, Cholmi PANG from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea emerged victorious, securing the coveted gold medal in a thrilling match against Yuan CHANG from the People’s Republic of China. The competition was fierce, with Yuan CHANG taking the lead in the opening round. However, PANG’s remarkable counterattacks in the second and third rounds gradually turned the tide in her favor. In the end, the judges declared a 3:2 split decision in favor of PANG, solidifying her position as the gold medalist in the match.
Moments later, the spotlight shifted to one of the most anticipated bouts of the day: the Women’s 75kg division gold medal match. This highly anticipated contest featured Qian LI (CHN), the silver medalist from Tokyo 2020, and Lovlina BORGOHAIN (IND), who had earned the bronze medal at the same event. Throughout the match, the Chinese athlete, Qian LI, displayed her exceptional skill and unwavering determination. She dominated the three rounds with her precise technique and aggression. The judges’ unanimous decision of 5:0 in her favor left no doubt about her victory in this intense contest.
After winning the gold medal, Li commented: “I think the biggest blow to me before was the 2014 Asian Games because that was my first time participating in a large-scale tournament. I was full of confidence to participate and get the gold medal, but then I did not get it. After so many years participating in two Olympic Games, step by step, I finally got the gold medal, and have been constantly pushing myself forward.”
A second gold medal arrived today for Team People’s Republic of China as Wenlu YANG outscored Ungyong WON (PRK) by unanimous decision, thereby claiming the brightest medal. Once again, YANG proved to be one of the best boxers in the Women’s 60kg weight category, collecting her fourth 5:0 victory in a row in the tournament.
“I am very excited and happy. Whether the competition is held in China or abroad, there is no big difference. I will try my best at all the competitions.” – stated YANG after her victory.
Chinzorig BAATARSUKH of Mongolia proved to be the best after winning the 19th Asian Games boxing tournament in the Men’s 63.5kg category. In the final bout against Chinese Taipei’s Chu En LAI, the Mongolian boxer controlled the rhythm of the match and kept his opponent at a distance. Moving around the ring, he dominated his opponent with exceptional boxing skills, earning 10/9 scores across all three rounds and finishing atop the podium.
Chia Wei KAN (TPE) withdrew from his Men’s 71kg final, handing a walkover win as well as the gold medal to his opponent Sewonrets Quincy Mensah OKAZAWA of Japan.
Eight Paris 2024 Olympic quota places were at stake today, with one awarded in each of the semifinals.
Chinese Taipei’s Yu Ting LIN triumphed over India’s Parveen with a unanimous decision in the Women’s 57kg weight class semifinal. LIN’s impressive boxing skills earned her a spot in the finals scheduled for tomorrow, October 5, where she will face Kazakhstan’s Karina IBRAGIMOVA, who secured her spot in the last match of the tournament with a hard-fought 3:2 win against Tajikistan’s Mijgona SAMADOVA. All four semifinalists have already earned their tickets to Paris 2024 in their respective weight categories.
In the Men’s 51kg division, Thitisan PANMOT (THA) clinched a 3:2 win over Chonryong SO (PRK), securing a quota place for Paris 2024. The Thai boxer narrowly won the opening round, but SO fought back in the second round. With both boxers going at it in the third round, the judges declared PANMOT as the winner by split decision. In the gold medal match, the boxer from Thailand will face a formidable opponent: Hasanboy DUSMATOV (UZB), the 2018 Asian Games silver medallist and Rio 2016 champion. The Uzbek athlete advanced in the brackets after defeating Tomoya TSUBOI of Japan in a close contest won on points 4:1.
People’s Republic of China’s Tanglatihan TUOHETAERBIEKE and Uzbekistan’s Turabek KHABIBULLAEV took center stage in the first of the two Men’s 80kg semifinals. Despite KHABIBULLAEV earning five 10/9 scores in the first round, the Chinese opponent fought back in the second and third rounds to take a well-deserved 4:1 split decision victory. TUOHETAERBIEKE’s win advances him to the semifinals and secures him a place in the Paris 2024 Games. An impressive performance by Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Eumir Felix MARCIAL (PHI) also guaranteed him a spot in the upcoming Olympics after defeating Syria’s GHOUSOON Ahmad by knockout, his second in a row in the tournament.
Thailand’s Janjaem SUWANNAPHENG showcased his prowess in the Women’s 66kg category with a dominant performance against Kazakhstan’s Natalya BOGDANOVA. The Thai boxer displayed impressive punches and clearly won the bout, forcing her opponent into two standing counts in the third round. As a result, the referee stopped the contest, giving the victory to SUWANNAPHENG. Today’s victory secured her a ticket to Paris as well as a spot in the final against Nien Chin CHEN (CHN), who clinched a 3:2 split decision win over Chinese Taipei’s Liu YANG. The home favorite can now fulfill her dream of qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Abdumalik KHALOKOV (UZB) also booked a spot for competing at Paris 2024 as he ran out a comfortable 5:0 winner in his Men’s 57kg semifinal, leaving no chances to Ping LYU from the People’s Republic of China and earning five 10/9 scores from the judges in each of the three rounds contested. In the gold medal match scheduled for tomorrow, October 5, he will face off against Shudai HARADA of Japan, who clinched victory against Thailand’s Rujakran JUNTRONG by a razor-thin margin of 3 points to 2. HARADA also earned the opportunity to represent his country at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a nominal quota place.
Competition is set to continue tomorrow with the last day of competition. Starting at 19:00 (Hangzhou local time), the ring of the Hangzhou Gymnasium will host the finals of the Women’s 57kg and 66kg, as well as the Men’s 51kg, 57kg, 80kg, and +92kg.
Paris 2024 Boxing Olympic Quota places awarded today, by event:
Men’s 51 kg: Thitisan PANMOT (THA), Hasanboy DUSMATOV (UZB)
Men’s 57kg: Abdumalik KHALOKOV (UZB), HARADA Shudai (JPN)
Men’s 80 kg: Tanglatihan TUOHETAERBIEKE (CHN), Eumir Felix MARCIAL (PHI)
Women’s 66 kg: Janjaem SUWANNAPHENG (THA), Nien Chin CHEN (CHN)
Paris 2024 Boxing Olympic Quota places awarded at the 19th Asian Games, by event:
Women’s 50kg: Yesugen OYUNTSETSEG (MGL), Yu WU (CHN), Chuthamat RAKSAT (THA), Zareen NIKHAT (IND)
Women’s 54kg: Preeti (IND), Yuan CHANG (CHN), Cholmi PANG (PRK), Nigina UKTAMOVA (UZB)
Women’s 57 kg: Parveen (IND), Yu Ting LIN (TPE), Karina BRAGIMOVA (KAZ), Mijgona SAMADOVA (TJK)
Women’s 60kg: Thananya SOMNUEK (THA), Ungyong WON (PRK), Shihyi WU (TPE), Wenlu YANG (CHN)
Women’s 75 kg: Lovlina BORGOHAIN (IND), Qian LI (CHN)
Men’s 63,5 kg: Chu En LAI (TPE), Chinzorig BAATARSUKH (MGL)
Men’s 71 kg: Chia Wei KAN (TPE), Sewonrets Quincy Mensah OKAZAWA (JPN)
Men’s 92kg: Xuezhen HAN (CHN), Davlat BOLTAEV (TJK)
Men’s +92kg: Kamshybek KUNKABAYEV (KAZ), Bakhodir JALOLOV (UZB)
Paris 2024 Boxing Olympic Quota places awarded at the 19th Asian Games, by country:
China, 7 quota places
Chinese Taipei, 4 quota places
India, 4 quota places
Thailand, 4 quota places
Uzbekistan, 4 quota places
Kazakistan, 2 quota places
Tijikistan, 2 quota places
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 2 quota places
Mongolia, 2 quota places
Japan, 2 quota place
Philippines, 1 quota place
34 Olympic quotas in total
