(AUG 14)  It was semi-finals on Wednesday, at the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Continental championships in Wulanchabu, China where the host nation and DPR Korea dominated the days’ proceedings whilst Thailand and Uzbekistan also offered strong challenges in their quest for 2015 titles.

Light Flyweight class (48 kg):

DPR Korea's Taipei City Cup winner U Yong Gum is relatively inexperienced in international competitions but excelled against Korea's AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Bak Cho Rong who had eliminated the titleholder of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg), Mongolia's Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag in the preliminary round. The North Korean ladies are usually very strong in the lowest weight class and U Yong Gum controlled the bout from the opening bell.

India's AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sarjubala Shamjetsabam Devi defeated one of her main rival Thailand's Chuthamat Raksat in the preliminary round and Kazakhstan's newly crowned National Champion Alina Turlubayeva in the quarter-finals. She now met China's National Champion E Naiyan a late addition to the Chinese team but who had earlier defeated Philippines' AIBA Women's World Champion and Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Josie Gabuco. The first India vs. China battle ended with the local boxer creating another surprise. One to watch for the future.

Flyweight class (51 kg):

DPR Korea's Ri Hyang Mi was silver medallist at the 2005 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Podolsk, Russia and arrived to Wulanchabu as a favourite. The North Korean boxer had a motivated rival in the semi-final of the Olympic category, Japan's Ayako Minowa who has got great stamina. The North Korean boxer was in fine form against her Japanese rival and advanced to the final.

China's three-time AIBA Women's World Champion Ren Cancan returned to the world of boxing after a short break and injury. Their top woman eliminated Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova in the bout of the championships and next up had to box with Mongolia's Nandintsetseg Myagmardulam who was bronze medallist in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games. The 27-year-old Chinese boxer delivered a much better performance in the semi-finals and she was able to advance to the gold medal bout.

Bantamweight class (54 kg):

Thailand’s former Asian Indoor Games winner and multiple Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Peamwilai Laopeam was back to her best form after a disappointing showing in Singapore in June. The veteran Thai boxer fought for the place in the final with Mongolia’s Myagmar Gundegmaa who has greatly improved in the past two years. The Mongolian was far from her best on this occasion Laopeam duly progressed to the final.

Philippines’ AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Nesthy Petecio increased her training schedule after losing at the Southeast Asian Games. She overcame India’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships competitor Maisnam Meena Kumari Devi who had herself eliminated a Chinese boxer in an earlier round. Petecio did what she was planned before the contest and her efforts were enough to defeat the Indian National Champion.

Featherweight class (57 kg):

Uzbekistan's Ismoil Hamzaaliyev Memorial Tournament silver medallist Yodgor Mirzoyeva eliminated China’s Gao Meiling in the quarter-finals which was a great victory for the 19-year-old boxer and the first triumph for an Uzbek women boxer over a Chinese athlete therefore Mirzoyeva hoped for a repeat performance against DPR Korea's Ri Kwang Suk. The Uzbek boxer was brave in attacks but Ri was more patient and her counter-attacks reached the target several times.

India’s President’s Cup bronze medallist Pwilao Basumatary eliminated Kazakhstan’s Zhanna Baskayeva in the quarter-finals and had to face Thailand's AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Tassamalee Thongjan for a place in the final. The Indian boxer had great youth career and tried to control the bout but after the first round she was not decisive enough and Thongjan found her rhythm which meant Thailand won its second bout of the day in Wulanchabu.

Lightweight class (60 kg):

China’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Yin Junhua began boxing only in 2009 but she is a huge talent in the sport and delivered world class performance in the current Olympic era. The Lightweight class is such an important category and Yin had to face a competitive rival in Korea's National Sports Festival winner Oh Yeon Ji in the semi-finals. The Chinese boxer was far from her best, appearing very tired after her previous efforts and the energetic Korean delivered one of the main surprises of the competition defeating Yin Junhua in Wulanchabu. The Chinese champion you will recall is currently ranked AIBA no.2 behind Olympic Gold medallist Katie Taylor and was a hot favourite to emerge as the new ASBC champion.

Another shock was to follow. Tajikistan's London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist and AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Mavzuna Chorieva had dominated both of her opening contests and seemed destined for the final. True her rival, DPR Korea’s Ri Tong Sun eliminated Vietnam’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Luu Thi Duyen and hoped for a good fight against the Central Asian boxer. Chorieva controlled the opening rounds against her North Korean rival but Ri’s lethal punches shocked the Tajik boxer in the third round and the referee stopped their bout. A huge shock then in both 60kg semi-finals.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):

DPR Korea's AIBA Women's World Champion Pak Kyong Ok returned to the world of boxing and the veteran athlete is seeking her next title. Vietnam's last remaining boxer in Wulanchabu Ha Thi Linh made a brave attempt to beat Pak in the first semi-final of the category but she did not have realistic chance to beat the returning star. Will Pak Kyong Ok or Ri Tong Sun be the DPR’s representative in the 2016 Women’s World and Olympic qualifiers at 60kg?

China’s National Champion Yang Wenlu was the strong favourite when she fought Tajikistan's FISU University World Championships silver medallist Shoira Zulkaynarova who achieved a career highlight advancing to the semi-finals in a continental event. The 20-year-old Tajik girl had reason to be happy with her guaranteed medal and she could not improve upon her performance in the bout against the host nation’s hope.

Welterweight class (69 kg):

China’s Gu Hong was added to her country’s team just before the start of the championships. She was lucky in the draw and gained a bye in the quarter-finals. Her opening bout against Kazakhstan's AIBA Women's Youth World Champion Gaukhar Yermekbay was a really tough one but she was equal to the task in front of her home crowd.



Uzbekistan's Shakhnoza Nizamova moved down one weight class since her appearance in the 2011 tournament and that was such a good decision from the Central Asian boxer. She had to meet for a final place with Chinese Taipei’s Wu Pei Yi who had made her own debut only in the semi-finals in Wulanchabu. Nizamova created history as she became the first Uzbek woman boxer to reach a final of a major Continental championships.

Middleweight class (75 kg):

China’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Li Qian gained revenge earlier against DPR Korea’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Jang Un Hui and now she was up against India’s Pooja Rani. Her second opponent was also a difficult one who attacked and tried to control the contest from the first round. Li Qian used her footwork to eliminate the Indian boxer and won all of the rounds according to the judges’ scorecards.

Kazakhstan’s former ASBC Asian Women’s Continental Champion Dariga Shakimova dominated her second contest over Korea’s National Sports Festival winner Seong Su Yeon and secured her place in the gold medal bout where the two favourites fight for the title today. Shakimova will have to fight not only her opponent but also the home crowd.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):

India’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Saweety Boora won three rounds against Uzbekistan’s National Champion Dilnovaz Narkhodjayeva who moved up three weight classes since 2012. It was enough to advance to the final of the championships where her next rival will be China’s AIBA Women’s World Champion Yang Xiaoli. The host nation’s boxer had a tough opponent in Kazakhstan’s Moldir Bazarbayeva who replaced Yulduz Mamatkulova in the team. Yang needed to do give very best after the first round when Bazarbayeva has been on top. So an India vs China fascinating battle in prospect tonight.

Heavyweight class (+81 kg):

Kazakhstan’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Lazzat Kungeybayeva arrived as the main gold medal contender and favourite for the Heavyweight class (81 kg). The 28-year-old boxer began her competition against Uzbekistan’s Guzal Ismatova who started her sport career in kurash. The Uzbek boxer attacked from the opening bell and her power shocked Kungeybayeva who was retired injured just ninety seconds into their bout.

China’s two-time National Champion Wang Shijin and India’s Seema Poonia, who moved up one weight class in the recent months, have given of their all,in the last bout of the day. The 21-year-old Chinese boxer won all of the rounds in their contest and will be the final rival of Uzbekistan’s emerging newcomer, Kungeybayeva. For those of our readers unfamiliar with the sport, kurash is an ancient type of upright jacket grappling which originated in the territory of modern Uzbekistan. According to the latest scientific research Kurash is at least three and a half thousand years.