The upcoming ASBC Asian Men’s & Women’s Elite Boxing Championships is all set to kick start from May 24, after being shifted to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The finest boxing nations of Asia, like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Thailand, Philippines, Mongolia, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will field their contingents in the event.
Let's have a look at some of the strongest teams and their stars competing in the event.
India –
The Indian coaches and officials have put in a lot of hard work in recent years to create a strong team, and after their sensational performance at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships, the Indian squad is ready to take on Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan at the Championships.
India’s boxing great MC Mary Kom, the six-times AIBA Women’s World Champion, five-times ASBC Asian Women’s Champion, Asian Games winner and Commonwealth Games gold medallist will be contesting in the flyweight (51kg) category in Dubai where almost all of the Indian women pugilists are the favourites in their respective categories. From the men's team , Amit Panghal (52kg), Shiva Thapa (64kg) and Vikas Krishan Yadav (69kg) are already medallists in previous AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Uzbekistan –
Uzbekistan landed in the venue with a big delegation and the nation is expecting to top the medal tally. Among the defending AIBA Men’s Elite World Champions, Uzbekistan’s trio as Shakhobiddin Zoirov (52kg), Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov (57kg) and Bakhodir Jalolov (+91kg) all will be contesting in Dubai.
Their medal winners and champions from major events like Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov (49kg), Abdumalik Khalakov (60kg), Elnur Abduraimov (64kg), Bobo-Usmon Baturov (69kg), Dilshodbek Ruzmetov (81kg) and Sanjar Tursunov (91kg) are also providing a solid support to their team.
Their younger girls were impressive in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Poland last month, and the Uzbek top women boxers have also progressed brilliantly since 2019. The Uzbeks clinched four golds in the previous event in Bangkok two years ago but their expectations are even higher in Dubai.
Kazakhstan –
Kazakhstan won six medals in the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships and the winners included Saken Bibossynov (52kg), Ablaikhan Zhussupov (69kg), Bekzad Nurdauletov (81kg), Vasiliy Levit (91kg) and Kamshybek Kunkabayev (+91kg), who will now be competing once again.
Their four AIBA Women’s World Champions: Nazym Kyzaibay (51kg), Dina Zholaman (54kg), Valentina Khalzova (69kg) and Lazzat Kungeibayeva (+81kg) will be all participating in the Championships.
Mongolia –
The Mongolians earned titles in the last ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships and Asian Games, and their formidable line up is a combination of seasoned stars and young talents. The team displayed a brilliant performance in the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic. Erdenebat Tsendbaatar’s main goal is to defend his title in Dubai and defeat all of his Asian rivals one more time, but Asian Games silver medallist Chinzorig Baatarsukh (64kg) and powerhouse Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu (52kg) are also part of their team in Dubai.
Philippines –
The Filipino puglislists trained in their country and in Thailand in the previous weeks to prepare for the upcoming event. Their side features a defending champion Josie Gabuco (48kg) who clinched the gold medal at the 2012 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Philippines’ top men boxer Eumir Felix Marcial (75kg) bagged silver at the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships and boasts of 10 years of international experience.
Tajikistan –
Tajikistan announced their final contingent for the Championships which features eleven boxers consisting of four talented girls. Their defending ASBC Asian Champion Bakhodur Usmonov (64kg), FISU University World Champion Shabbos Negmatulloev (81kg) and their Women's No.1 Shoira Zulkaynarova (60kg) are part of the team. The team will be landing in Dubai with four seasoned coaches and has strong contenders for titles in several weight categories.
Kyrgyzstan –
The Kyrgyz boxers earned two bronze medals in the previous ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships held in Bangkok. The Kyrgyz pugilists contested at the Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament, the Governor Cup and also at the Belgrade Winner Tournament this year to be well prepared for the dubai event.
Kyrgyzstan’s veteran pugilists and medallists from the previous championships: Mirlan Turkbay Uulu (49kg), Azat Usenaliev (52kg) and Erkin Adylbek Uulu (81kg) all have been selected for the event along with the next generation of Kyrgyz talents such as ASBC Asian Youth Champion Nuradin Rustambek Uulu (69kg).
Participating nations in the 2021 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships:
Afghanistan, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, host United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
