Boxingtalk salutes 12 world youth amateur champions

Source: IBA

28/11/2022

Boxingtalk salutes 12 world youth amateur champions

On Friday, twelve newly crowned IBA youth world champions earned gold medals at the Ciudad Deportiva Camilo Cano arena in La Nucía, Spain. Gulsevar Ganieva from Uzbekistan celebrated the first victory of the day in the women’s 48 kilogram (106-pound) category. She topped Bhawna Sharma from India with a unanimous decision. After the first round, Ganieva had an advantage on three of five scorecards. She won unanimously in the second round and was able to keep leading until the end of the fight... In men’s 48kg (106-pound), India's Vishvanath Suresh met Ronel Suyom from the Philippines. Both athletes demonstrated impressive speed in the ring in their exchanges. Suresh was more precise in his punches and wom via a split decision 4-1.  
 
Suresh said afterwards, I am very happy I got the gold and this is my last youth tournament. My parents will be very happy, along with my people from the village and everyone else who supported me. The opponent was good, but I faced tougher bouts in the earlier stage of the tournament. I am very excited that I won the bout unanimously."
 
Defending Youth European Champion, Serbia's Sara Cirkovic was too strong for Sofie Vinther Rosshaug of Denmark. The 18 year-old Cirkovic secured a lead after two rounds, and in the third, she finished a victorious fight in a confident manner. "I can’t say that I didn’t expect the gold because since we started, that was the only thing on our minds, and we really prepared a lot, I think we deserved the gold. This is my biggest success so far, this year I won European gold and was declared the best female boxer at the European Championships. This year passes without a single defeat and I had 21 bouts," Cirkovic said emotionally. 
 
In the next fight of the evening, Mexico met Cuba in men’s 51kg (112 pounds). In the spectacular fight between Ari Bonilla and Ewart Andres Marin Hernandez, the Mexican led the bout and celebrated his first international victory with a split decision 4-1. After the fight, Bonilla dedicated his medal to his brother Andrey Bonilla who also took part in the IBA Youth World Championships in 54kg and lost in his quarterfinal bout. "I am very happy with my gold medal and dedicate it to my brother. Now my goal is to become a winner in all future competitions," Ari Bonilla claimed.  
 
In women’s 52kg (115-pound) category, Lauren Mackie from England defeated India's Devika Satyajit Ghorpade, who didn’t have much of a chance. She won with confidence and said after the fight that she missed her dad who is waiting for her at home. She dedicated her gold to him and her coaches. 
 
India's Ashish was very well-prepared for the competition and demonstrated that in the ring against Japanese Yuta Sakai in men’s 54kg (119 pounds). However, after two rounds the score was equal, and the third round was the decisive one. Ashish bravely went ahead with his fast punches, but Sakai was more successful in his attacks. After the bout review, the Japanese celebrated the victory with a split decision. 
 
Kazakhstan’s Elina Bazarova faced Germany’s Chrisovalantou Koutsochristou in one of the most exciting bouts of the day in women’s 54kg (119 pounds). The first two rounds were taken by Bazarova, and the referee counted twice for the German athlete. It didn’t stop Koutsochristou, and she kept going forward. However, this was not enough to win, as the Kazakh athlete showed her best and celebrated a victory 5-0. 
 
Bakhtiyor Asadov unanimously defeated his Mexican rival Gael Ezequiel Cabrera Urias in men’s 57kg (126 pounds). He thanked his coaches for hard work done to prepare for this tournament.  
 
Asya Ari from Germany met with Yoseline Guadalupe Perez of the United States and the Germa lost by RSC in the first round. The winner told that it made this victory special. ‘It feels amazing,’ Perez was almost crying. ‘There is no greater feeling in the world. I said I am going to do this, and I did this. I want to dedicate this medal to my family back home, it’s been weeks since I have last seen them. But I take them anywhere with me and feel their support."   
 
Armenia's Erik Israyelyan triumphed in the men’s 60kg (132-pound) final Georgia's Gocha Gordulava. The referee admoinistered two counts to the Georgian, and Israyelyan made it with a unanimous victory. He couldn’t hide his emotions after he earned the gold medal. 
 
Maud van der Toorn from the Netherlands met with Ukrainian boxer Tetiana Dovhal in the final fight in women’s 60kg (132-pound). She didn’t leave much to chance for her opponent. Van der Toorn’s parents were at the arena supporting their daughter. She said that this support was crucial for her. 
 
In the last bout of the evening, India's Vanshaj fought against Demur Kajaia from Georgia in 65.3kg (144-pound). The athletes had some exciting exchanges, but Vanshaj was stronger today and won by unanimous decision. "I feel very proud of my country, I am waiting for the moment to hear my anthem on the podium. That will be the biggest moment of my life. I was very confident from the first bout, my main focus was on the gold medal," Vanshaj claimed.