Thirty bouts were held in the evening session of the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Kielce, Poland. Veronika Gajdova has written history for the Czech Republic on the sixth competition day claiming a medal.
Bouts in the women’s light flyweight (48kg), lightweight (60kg) and the light heavyweight (81kg) were medal contests, the winners advanced to the semi-finals. Poland, Thailand, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Czech Republic and Turkey claimed these women’s medals in the evening session.
The contests in the men’s welterweight (69kg) and light heavyweight (81kg) were still the last preliminary stages in Kielce. The first men’s medals were shared between Cuba, Armenia, Hungary and Uzbekistan in the men’s super heavyweight (+91kg) during the evening session.
Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska was the first medallist in the evening session
Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska eliminated her Ukrainian and German opponents in the previous rounds in the women’s light flyweight (48kg). She met with Nepal’s hero Susma Tamang who has done a historical success in the preliminary stage.
The Polish girl had impressive attacks in the first round and tried to pressurize her technician Nepali opponent. Tamang adopted the rhythm of the contest quickly and her counter-attacks were also dangerous for Kuczewska. Poland’s pride had to go to the medical corner at the end of the first round but she was able to continue the contest at a high level.
The second round was the best for the Polish boxer and after it, she had a strong advantage. Tamang moved more on her feet and she impressed at the tournament but the medal remained in Poland. Kuczewska will meet for the final with Thailand’s Thipsatcha Yodwaree who eliminated Uzbekistan’s virtuoso Farzona Fozilova.
Gajdova achieved the first-ever Czech medal
Veronika Gajdova had a tough preliminary contest in Kielce which she won by split decision and after that, she needed only one step for the medal at the women’s lightweight (60kg). Her opponent, Moldova’s Cristina Chiper achieved a bronze medal at the 2020 EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships, therefore, Gajdova expected a tough bout.
The Czech girl used her longer reach well in the first round and stopped the Moldovan attacks with jabs. Gajdova’s tactical weapon controlled their contest also in the second round when Chiper tried to reduce the fighting distance. However, in the third round, Moldova’s fighter become tired, and Czech Republic’s last remained women boxer gave it all to advance to semi-finals.
Gajdova became the first-ever Czech women’s boxer who could win a medal at the AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships. Gajdova’s next opponent will be the top contender of the category, India’s Vinka who did really hard work in the ring against Colombia’s Camila Gabriela Camilo Bravo.
‘It is a fantastic feeling that I can represent my country and I am a medalist at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. I began to do boxing only two years ago and thanks for my coach who taught me everything, I could make this happen. My strategy was very simple, I had to enjoy the bout and do my best against the Moldovan boxer. I am taller than most of my opponents in my weight class, therefore, I could use my height advantage well enough. I am the first Czech girl who won a medal in this level which raise the importance of my result. I am expecting a hard battle in the semi-final and, if I lose, I will go back to my gym to train more intensively,’ commented her success Gajdova.
Kiss and Zokirov amazed in the men’s super heavyweight (+91kg)
The men’s super heavyweight (+91kg) is a solid category in Kielce. Russia’s defending EUBC European Youth Champion Ivan Onishchenko had to meet with Hungary’s best male youth boxer, Elite National Champion Levente Kiss in the quarter-finals.
The Hungarian caught the Russian in the middle of the first round and dictated the tempo as in his previous contest against the Indian. Onishchenko had the weight advantage in the bout but he was not able to adapt his tempo.
The Hungarian was quicker at the beginning of the second round and his hooks reached the target. Onishchenko replied with a good combination in the middle but the motivated Hungarian had also strong weapons and ruled the finish of the second round. Onishchenko gave everything in the third but Kiss had a better physical condition and won their contest. The Hungarian is a guaranteed medallist and will meet with Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Jakhongir Zokirov in the semi-finals.
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