(SEPT 27)
The 17th Edition of the Asian Games is now in
full swing in Incheon, South Korea, where on today (27th)
the 40 athletes entered in the inaugural women’s boxing
tournament see action for the first time.
The 2014
Asian Games, officially known as the XVII Asiad, is the
largest sporting event in Asia governed by Olympic Council
of Asia (OCA). It is taking place in Incheon, Korea’s port
city, South Korea from September 19 through Oct. 4,
featuring 439 events in 36 sports.
Incheon was
awarded the right on April 17, 2007, defeating Delhi, India
to host the Games. Incheon is the third city in South Korea
after Seoul (1986) and Busan (2002) to host the Asian Games.
Again the
women’s boxing tournament is restricted to the three Olympic
weights – up to 51kg, 60kg and 75kg and among the
pre-tournament favourites are Tajikistan’s Mavzuna Chorieva
who had the privilege of leading her country’s sports stars
in the colourful Opening Ceremony. Mavzuna you will recall
was the first Tajikistan sportsperson to win an Olympic
medal when she struck bronze in London 2012, losing only to
the eventual Gold medallist, Ireland’s Katie Taylor in the
semi-final.
Another to
feature in Incheon is India’s Mary Kom, the only woman to
have won a world AIBA title five times and who later this
year will be seeking a sixth crown when the 2014
championships return to South Korea, this time to Jeju
Island in November. India has three representatives in
action on the first day of the women’s programme:
M C Mary
Kom (IND) v Kim Yeji(KOR) (women's 51kg round of 16); L
Sarita Devi(IND) v Ri Chungson (PRK) (women's 60kg round of
16); Pooja Rani (IND) v Erdenesoyol Undram (MGL) (women's
75kg round of 16)
Chorieva
and Mary Kom apart there are several outstanding boxers in
this tournament among them, Josie Gabuco (PHI),Haijuan Si (CHN)
and Zhaina Shekerbekova (KAZ) in the flyweights. The pick of
the 60kg lightweights include: India’s Laishram Sarita
Devi,the host nation’s Jina Park, China’s Junhua Yin,
Thailand’s Tassamalee Thongjan and Ri Chungson of the
People’s Republic of Korea.
Turning to
the 75kg category it is difficult to look further than
Marina Volnova (KAZ) albeit she faces stiff opposition from
Qian Li of China, and the winner of the last 16 bout between
India’s Rani Pooja and the highly skilful Mongolian Undram
Erdenesoyol.
Women’s
boxing though has vastly improved in Asia since 2012 so do
not be surprised if some shocks are in store for some of the
old favourites. India has dominated the recent men’s events
but this year Kazakhstan seem certain to emerge as the top
nation whereas the Chinese women who have previously
dominated tournaments in the region may well find themselves
playing a less important role this time round.
There are
forty women entered for the debut of women in the boxing
tournament.
48-51
kg:
Link
16
57-60 kg
:
Link
14
69-75
kg: LInk
10
