Asian School Championship

Indian Boxer Deepali Thapa is the first ever Asian Schoolgirl Champion and India bagged seven female titles at the Asian Championships earlier today.

India’s Deepali Thapa eliminated Kazakhstan’s Anelya Ordabek in the semi-finals of the 33kg weight class and she met for the first historic title, Ukraine’s Liudmyla Vasylchenko. The Indian had the height advantage in this bout but she was also the better attacker between them and she had the full control today. Thapa became the first ever boxer in the history of our sport who claimed a gold medal in the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships.
Kazakhstan’s Assel Jalimbekova had a tough semi-final against Ukraine’s Olha Misko and she joined the finals at the 35kg weight class. The Kazakh hopeful faced for the title with India’s Talent Hunt Program winner Bhoomi, another strong attacker in this age group. The Indian was better seconds by seconds and she had all of the technical skills to control the final therefore Bhoomi achieved the next title.
India’s Nischal Sharma was amazing in the previous rounds of the 37kg weight class and she planned to use the same strategy against Ukraine’s Maria Matsiura in her final bout. Sharma was slightly better in the first round than the Ukrainian but her opponent followed the new instructions in the second, and she used her distance better. Sharma regained the control in the third round and her tactical response delivered the third-in-a-row title for India.
Oleksandra Cherevata used her height advantage against Kazakhstan’s Milana Inshina in the semi-finals of the 40kg weight class and that was her best weapon also in the final against India’s Laxmi Manjunath Lamani. The Indian started the bout with aggressive style of boxing, Cherevata was able to stop these attacks a few times and both had the chance to win the fourth final of the day after two rounds. Lamani looked tired in the third round and Cherevata used that opportunity to win the first title for Ukraine in Al Ain.
India’s Rakhi eliminated a top opponent, Kazakhstan’s Aruzhan Tillabay in their 43kg weight class semi-final but Ukraine’s Veronika Holub also impressed against Chinese Taipei’s fan favourite Su Hsin Yu tree days ago. Rakhi used her close distance strategy better in the first round but the taller Ukrainian started the second with nice left-handed hooks. The Indian had better finish in this final bout and she claimed her nation’s fourth title in the championship.
Ukraine’s Maria Rafalska, the 2023 European Schoolgirls Boxing Championships silver medallist, met Kazakhstan’s Lashyn Dauletzhan in the final of the 46kg weight class which bout was one of the most anticipated battles today. The Kazakh had the height advantage and she tried to keep her Ukrainian opponent on long with great defensive skills but finally Rafalska’s hand was raised in the bout of the day.
Kazakhstan’s Nuraiym Kudaybergen prepared a hard the final against Ukraine’s Kateryna Smolkina at the 49kg weight class and she boxed also in the same strong level as Lashyn Dauletzhan. She took the lead on the judges’ scorecards after one and half minute of fight and she avoided the Ukrainian attacks successfully in the second round. The southpaw Kudaybergen used her stopping jabs effectively in the third and she claimed Kazakhstan’s first gold medal in Al Ain.
India’s Naitik had the stamina to win her 52kg semi-final bout and she tried to do her very best against Kazakhstan’s Arina Orazymbet as well. Naitik not only attacked but she had the technical skills as well to land her shots from longer range as well. Orazymbet used her best punches, the right-handed jabs better in the second round therefore Naitik had to still increase her rhythm one more time to win this final.
Ukraine’s Anhelina Rumiantseva achieved the gold medal at the 2023 edition of the European Schoolgirls Boxing Championships at the age of 13 and she following her success over India’s Navya, she was the favourite against Kazakhstan’s Balym Gabytkyzy for the gold medal at the 55kg. Rumiantseva not only used her world-class footwork in the first round but she landed several clean shots as well. The brilliant Ukrainian started the second round with enthusiasm and she proved her amazing technical skills despite her age of 14.
Kazakhstan’s Ailin Khodzhamberdiyeva eliminated an Indian rival, Ishika in the semi-finals of the 58kg weight category therefore she was a high hope in the final against Ukraine’s Vira Vasylenko. The Ukrainian southpaw was patient in the attacks and she tried to use her longer reach but Khodzhamberdiyeva’s fast attacks decided their final bout.
Kazakhstan’s next finalist boxer, Ayaulym Ospanova has strong family connections to our sport, her sisters are also involved to the sport. The 61kg Kazakh had a physical advantage in the final against India’s Diya and she shocked her opponent with an immediate heavy punch in the first seconds. Following the standing count, the Indian adopted the rhythm of the bout but Ospanova knocked her down in the third and the referee stopped their unequal contest.
Kazakhstan’s Madina Nurmanova was fresh enough in the final of the schoolgirls 64kg weight class and she looked stronger than Ukraine’s Ksenia Kotsokhub who won the Riga Ladies Boxing Cup in Latvia this March. The Kazakh won the first round in their final meeting but Kotsokhub came back to the contest in time to turn back the closest title bout of the tenth competition day.
India’s Trushana Vinayak Mohite had a very tough and close semi-final against Kazakhstan’s Kymbat Gabidolla at the 67kg weight class but she had a comfortable success over Ukraine’s Anna Hornostal in the final. Kazakhstan’s Diana Nadyrbek won her nation’s fourth schoolgirl title in Al Ain after beating India’s Manshi Malik at the 70kg weight class. India’s Gurseerat Kaur won the last 15th title among the schoolgirls which finished the first part of the day.
The schoolgirls began their historic competition in the Asian Championships and among them Chinese Taipei’s Su Hsin Yu delighted the whole venue with her performance and personality.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the participating 26 nations in the event.