(OCT 21) The Boxing programme got underway Sunday in the 2013 Sportaccord World Combat Games in St Petersburg, Russia and as with the Olympic Games three women’s events are scheduled to take place (51,60 and 75kg) with the finals on Thursday.

In all more than 1,300 athletes from all over the world are scheduled to participate in 15 different martial arts and combat sports in the second staging of the event.

SportAccord World Combat Games showcase Olympic and non-Olympic martial arts and combat sports, among them Aikido, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Wushu. Featuring some of the best athletes of each sport, the Games are a top-quality sporting event and are about more than just sports. They are accompanied by a rich and entertaining cultural program that reflects the ancient traditions and values of martial arts as well as well as their contribution to the modern society.

13 sports participated the first edition in 2010. In 2013, two new sports, Fencing and Savate will join and complete the sports programme.

Day one, quarter-finals day, saw wins for among others, Great Britain’s Natasha Jonas (60kg) and Savannah Marshall (75kg), Bulgaria’s Stoyka Petrova (51kg),Russia’s Olesya Gladkova(51kg) and Chinese 75kg champion, Li Qian, the latter at the expense of U.S boxing’s Franchon Crews.

On Tuesday, Britain’s Natasha Jonas renews hostilities with Queen Underwood of the United States when the two meet in one semi-final of the Lightweight division – a repeat of their London 2012 last eight bout when Jonas emerged victorious (21-13) on that ‘historic Sunday’ for women’s boxing.

It was of course not a happy day for a clearly disappointed Underwood who said later : “I really feel that I didn’t have any chance being down and against the home crowd.” So, with the ‘new’ 10 points must scoring system in action in St Petersburg, Queen has her chance of revenge against Jonas on Tuesday with the winner going through to the final against either Russia’s Anastasia Belyakova or Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva. In terms of the current AIBA rankings, Jonas is no.5, Underwood 36, Belyakova (no 16 at 64kg), and Staneva no 4 (at 57kg). So an important tournament this for all four boxers.

Franchon Crews went under Sunday against China’s Li Qian with two judges (Lithuania and Moldova) voting (40:36) for the Chinese boxer and the Estonian judge making it 38:38. On Tuesday Li Qian now meets Lila Lipska of Ukraine whilst in the other semi-final Savannah Marshall (GB) comes up against the home nation’s Iaroslava Iakushina. In the quarter finals Sunday, Marshall overcame the challenge of Brazilian, Daniele Bastieri (3-0).

Before leaving for St Petersburg, Marshall told the ‘Hartlepool Mail’ : ““I’m not sure which countries are going to be there,” she said.

“It’s going to be a good competition, whoever’s there.”

“I feel good,” she added “I’ve worked hard at Sheffield and been sparring with a couple of the 81 kilo lads from the GB development squad.

“Back home, coach Tim (Coulter) has taken me on the pads and I’ve felt really sharp.

“There have not been many tournaments this year so to get the chance to go here is great.

“It looks similar to the London Prepares event which was in the year before the Olympics when a load of different sports were taking place at the same time”.

In Tuesday’s semi-finals of the 51kg competition, Marlen Esparza of U.S boxing, is up against that tough Bulgarian,Stoyka Petrova whilst in the second semi-final ,Russia’s Olesya Gladkova clashes with Chinese no.2,Hi Juan Sl.

Sunday’s Quarter-Finals women - results courtesy : http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/

2013-10-20 51kg Stoyka Petrova BUL Meltem Akar TUR 3:0
2013-10-20 51kg Olesya Gladkova RUS Cleila Costa BRA 2:0
2013-10-20 60kg Natasha Jonas ENG Gamze Basar TUR 3:0
2013-10-20 75kg Savannah Marshall ENG Danielle Bastieri BRA 3:0
2013-10-20 75kg Li Qian CHN Franchon Crews USA 2:0


All the results (inc judges’ scorecards) here: http://www.worldcombatgames.com/en/page/160/schedule

Quarter- Finals men

2013-10-20 49kg Valentin Chebochakov RUS Mirlan Turkbay KIR 2:1
2013-10-20 64kg Joedison Teixeira BRA Ural Karslioglu TUR 3:0
2013-10-20 64kg Nick Jefferson USA Ivo Yordanov BUL 2:1
2013-10-20 69kg Onur Sipal TUR Ekow Tabiri-Essuman ENG 3:0
2013-10-20 75kg Vladislav Voitalyuk UKR Zhao Minggang CHN TKOI
2013-10-20 75kg Lucas Martins BRA Eldar Guliyev AZE 3:0


And finally the organisers daily video report from St Petersburg – Day Three

(Be aware that this covers ALL combat sports and covers some six hours of action concentrating on the medal events each day)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opwpXPzA8jk