(APR 1) The ASBC Boxing Confederation Championships (& Olympic qualifiers) have now reached the final stages in Qian ‘an China with Saturday seeing all three women’s finals. Ren Cancan, Yin Junhua and Li Qian are strong favourites for the Gold medals especially on ‘home soil’ and with several thousand home fans cheering their every move.

From this tournament at least there will be no place in the final or in the Olympics for India’s five time World champion Mary Kom who went under 3:0 against China’s Ren Cancan in in the 51kg semi-final. Of course ALL those who do not qualify here will have one final opportunity in May’s AIBA World Championships in Astana.

So some big shocks in the semi-finals as you’ll see here from the ASBC team in China, who filed this report:

“After the rest day the semi-finals were held in the sixth competition day of the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event in Qian ‘an, China. The winners of the women’s and men’s semi-finals have qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and joined the 13 Asian boxers who secured their spots in 2015. Uzbekistan has got now 11 quota places while Kazakhstan and China both 9-9 spots for Rio.

Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg):

Chinese Taipei’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Lin Yu Ting eliminated Thailand’s Peamwilai Laopeam in Qian’an and had to meet with Uzbekistan’s last woman boxer Yodgoroy Mirzaeva who shocked DPR Korea’s experienced Ri Hyang Mi in the quarter-finals. The Uzbek youngster was stronger and advanced to the final where she will now meet with China’s star Ren Cancan who defeated India’s Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte in the second semi-final of the competition.

Women’s Lightweight class (60 kg):

China’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Yin Junhua had to discover how to reach Vietnam’s taller Luu Thi Duyen in the semi-final of the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event but she successfully done this job. The 25-year-old Chinese boxer began boxing only in 2009 but a few years of experiences were enough to get the Olympic spot while she will now meet with Australia’s lone finalist Shelley Watts for the gold medal.

Women’s Middleweight class (75 kg):

Kazakhstan’s defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Dariga Shakimova controlled her quarter-final bout against Mongolia’s Erdenetuya Enkhbaatar and she could raise her rhythm against such a strong rival as DPR Korea’s last remained boxer Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Jang Un Hui in the semi-finals while China’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Li Qian defeated Chinese Taipei’s 19-year-old Chen Nien Chin in the second semi-final.

Day 8 Finals & Box-offs Schedule (Saturday):

Fourteen bouts will be held in the eighth competition day at the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event in Qian’an, China where the Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg), Women’s Lightweight class (60 kg), Women’s Middleweight class (75 kg), Men’s Lightweight class (60 kg), Men’s Light Welterweight class (64 kg), Men’s Heavyweight class (91 kg) and Men’s Super-Heavyweight class (+91 kg) will be in action. The winners of the box-offs will be joining to the Rio 2016 Olympians.

Saturday’s finals will be LIVE STREAMED via this ASBC/AIBA link: http://www.ppvsqq.com/aiba/ 

Results of every bout so far (male & Female) – courtesy Strefa Poland: http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/AsianOlyQual2016.html