|
Philippines, 15 Mar 2025 |
Home >> News |  |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
14 nations secured medals at IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš PhilBoxing.com Sat, 15 Mar 2025  Niš, Serbia – A total number of 14 nations have guaranteed the medals of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš, Serbia after the quarter-final stage ended on Thursday. Russia heads the list with seven semi-finalists, followed by Kazakhstan, Serbia and Türkiye with six boxers each. China will be represented with five athletes. Sara Ćirković made history in front of a home crowd at the Čair Sports Center, by securing Serbia’s first-ever medal at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships at the tournament that is ongoing in Niš. Many predicted the hosts to stand on the podium in at least one weight category, after claiming 11 medals at the 2024 EUBC European Boxing Championships in April, and the golden girl Ćirković duly delivered on that prediction. She advanced to the semi-finals of the 54kg tournament by defeating Zhaina Shekerbekova from Kazakhstan, a three-time World medallist. Little separated them – with both boxers winning unanimous favor with different judges. Importantly for Ćirković, she eked out the win to guarantee at least a bronze medal. All winners today guaranteed bronze medals as well as prize money of at least $25,000. Gold medal winners will claim $100,000 and the silver medallists will receive $50,000. Following her victory, Ćirković said: ‘She [Shekerbekova] had more intuition and experience than me, but I managed to beat her. The bout was difficult, but the next one will be better. It was very good, honestly it was a tough fight for me. I won a historic medal, the first in history, so I have to be satisfied.’ To make it to the final, she must defeat Moroccan top seed Widad Bertal in the semi-finals. Bertal continued to look like the biggest threat in the tournament, after defeating Vietnam’s Thi Kim Anh Vo by referee’s stoppage. The two-time African champion caused an early end to the match in the final round. Turkish boxer Hatice Akbas won a gruelling match against Russian Karina Tazabekova, in one of the most anticipated quarter-finals today. Akbas took the lead, but her opponent remained in contention and gave her a good challenge throughout. In the end, a split decision went the way of the Olympic silver medallist and 2022 World champion. Venezuela was denied their first World medal in history, as Natnicha Chongprongklang from Thailand pipped Johana Gomez to victory. Chongprongklang unanimously won the opening round, but Gomez replied by causing a standing count against the Thai boxer. With all to play for in the third round, the Thai won favour with four of the five judges. First-ever IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships medals secured for Serbia and Slovakia It was a successful afternoon for the hosts, who guaranteed more medals shortly after Ćirković’s success. 60kg top seed Natalia Shadrina comfortably defeated Josfien Betist of Sierra Leone by a unanimous decision to make it into the semi-finals. Her next opponent is Viktoriya Grafeyeva of Kazakhstan, who defeated Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova by the same verdict. On the other side of the draw, a close encounter saw Russian Nune Asatrian come from behind to defeat Svetlana Staneva of Bulgaria. The 23-year-old was much better in the third round, which made the difference with the judges. Asatrian next boxes Miroslava Jedinakova, who became the first athlete to win a first IBA World Championships medal for Slovakia. The scores were completely equal into the last round, but the Slovakian emerged victorious in the third round against Turkish boxer Gizem Ozer. Jedinakova, following her win, said: “I feel great and thankful to my coach, my family and everyone. This is not the end. We are going to the semi-finals and we are trying to do our best. Thanks to everyone who was cheering for me.” Balkibekova gold hunt still on Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova guaranteed herself another IBA World Championships medal, as she continues her quest for gold in the 50kg weight category. With World silver and bronze medals to her name so far, she will stand on the podium for a third time following her victory over Aysen Taskin of Türkiye. A scrappy, high-energy opening bout saw An Kum Byol from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea win by a split decision over Spanish third seed Laura Fuertes – a contest that was very close to call. Balkibekova and An will meet for that place in the final. Hu Meiyi from China enacted revenge on Asian champion and top seed Chuthamat Raksat from Thailand. In the Asian Championships quarter-finals last year, Raksat eliminated Hu by a unanimous decision on her way to gold. This time, it was a fine margin between the pair and Hu was incredibly passionate in her celebration. An all-Asian semi-final was confirmed when Sabina Bobokulova from Uzbekistan won by a split decision against Bulgarian Zlatislava Chukanova. Uzbekistan has never made it to a final at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, with Bobokulova hoping to be the first. Two-time World champion and Olympic gold medallist Busenaz Surmeneli of Türkiye had no problem progressing to the 66kg semi-finals, doing so by a unanimous decision against Slovakia’s Tamara Kubalova. Her next opponent will be Serbia’s Anastasija Lukajic, who had a positive third round to squeeze past Crinuta Sebe of Romania. Albina Moldazhanova of Russia is through too, beating Kazakhstan’s Zhasmin Kizatova by referee’s stoppage in the third round. Meeting her in the semi-finals is Navbakhor Khamidova from Uzbekistan, who won by a unanimous decision over Morocco’s Mounia Toutire. Referee’s stoppages were aplenty in the 81kg quarter-finals, with three contests stopping prematurely. Russia’s Saltanat Medenova was a first-round winner, resoundingly beating Maria Cimpoeru from Romania. This was followed by Morocco’s Hasnae Larti forcing the referee to stop her match in the third round, after getting the better of Victoriya Kebikava of Belarus. Wang Xiaomeng from China defeated Kenyan Elizabeth Andiego in the second round by referee’s stoppage, while Türkiye’s Busra Isildar won by a unanimous decision against Sokhiba Ruzmetova from Uzbekistan. Guneri becomes more decorated with sixth IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships medal Türkiye’s Elif Guneri guaranteed a sixth World medal after beating top seed Aynur Rzayeva from Azerbaijan by a split decision in the +81kg weight category. Showing respect for her opponent, Guneri kissed Rzayeva’s forehead and then her opponent’s flag on her vest, before raising her arm to show her appreciation. Guneri has yet to win a gold, but now with six medals, is already one of the most-decorated female boxers at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. She is tied with Ireland’s Katie Taylor – five golds and one bronze – for number of medals, and behind India’s Mary Kom – who has won six golds, one silver and one bronze. Guneri’s opponent will be China’s Zhan Yilian who defeated Russian Mariia Kuchmanova in the final bout of the session. On the other side of the bracket, Kazakhstan’s Asian champion Yeldana Talipova progressed at the expense of Sara Miljkovic of Serbia by a split decision. French Polynesia’s hopes of winning their first World medal ended as Daria Sazonova from Moldova won by referee’s stoppage against Zamora Nena, securing first medal for her nation since the very first Women’s World Championships edition in 2001. O’Rourke sisters guarantee medals for Ireland Irish sisters Lisa and Aoife O’Rourke secured medals today, achieving the rare feat of siblings winning medals at the same IBA World Championships, as both look to make the finals tomorrow. Lisa O’Rourke came in as one of the favourites in the 70kg tournament, having won World gold in 2022 in Istanbul. To guarantee a spot on the podium again, she had to defeat Morocco’s Saida Lahmidi. O’Rourke did not look fazed by her opponent, cruising to a unanimous decision verdict. She set up a semi-final contest with Kazakhstan’s Asian champion Natalya Bogdanova, who worked hard in the third round to defeat Serbia’s Milena Matovic. On the other side of the draw, Russian Elena Gapeshina won by a unanimous decision against Turkish boxer, Sema Caliskan, a two-time World bronze medallist. This sets up a final-four match-up against Aryna Danilchyk of Belarus, the victor over Vietnam’s Ngoc Mai Hoang. Aoife O’Rourke is a three-time European champion but had never tasted silverware at World level. Prior to the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, she played down her chances of winning a medal suggesting ‘I wouldn’t call myself one of the favorites,’ in an interview with IBA. However, she showed her quality through her bout with Aziza Zokirova from Uzbekistan, winning by a 4-1 split decision. In the 75kg semi-finals, she faces Serbia’s Nikolina Gajic, who came back from losing the first round and dealing with a deduction to defeat Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ryabets. Also through in the weight category was Russia’s Anastasiia Shamonova, who comfortably progressed past Amalia Nita of Romania by a unanimous decision; and next faces former World champion Wang Lina of China, who stopped IBA-Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata. World champions advance in lighter weight categories, as Uzbekistan hopes for first final Kazakhstan’s two-time World champion Nazym Kyzaibay looked incredibly impressive in her 48kg victory over Tayonis Cedeño from Venezuela by referee’s stoppage. Previously, Cedeño had looked promising in her past two bouts, but the Olympic bronze medallist was another step up for her. Three counts led to the referee waving off the contest in the third round, denying the South American country a first World medal. For a place in the final, Kyzaibay must defeat Hong Kyong Ryong of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, who defeated Bulgarian Sevda Asenova. Top seed and Asian champion Farzona Fozilova of Uzbekistan advanced with ease too, winning by a unanimous decision over Anakhanim Ismayilova from Azerbaijan. She meets Russian Iuliia Chumgalakova, the victor by a unanimous decision over Rabab Cheddar of Morocco. Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Türkiye won after less than two minutes by referee’s stoppage to progress to the 52kg semi-finals at the expense of IBA-Mongolia’s Arinzul Chinabat. The two-time Olympic silver medallist and 2022 World champion next faces home favorite Dragana Jovanovic from Serbia, who defeated Venelina Poptoleva from Bulgaria by a unanimous decision. In the other ring, Feruza Kazakova, another Asian champion from Uzbekistan, claimed victory comfortably over Imane El Azami from Morocco. DPR of Korea’s Olympic medallist and 2018 World champion Pang Chol Mi eliminated Russian Anna Aedma, putting herself into the semi-finals. Both Fozilova and Kazakova will be hoping to take Uzbekistan into a World final for the first time. Cai advances as Ibragimova gold dreams dashed Top seed and three-time World medallist Karina Ibragimova of Kazakhstan suffered a defeat to Cai Yan of China in the 57kg weight category, meaning she will not obtain a fourth medal or that elusive World title. The final round ensured the Chinese boxer extended her advantage, much to the disappointment of the favorite. Cai must face Punrawee Ruenros of Thailand – who defeated the Chinese in last year’s Asian Boxing Championships. Ruenros ended the run of Mugona Samadova of Tajikistan by a split decision verdict. Serbian Andela Brankovic’s run continued with a unanimous-decision win over Nigina Uktamova from Uzbekistan, and now to get to the very top she must defeat Türkiye’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman, who won by the same verdict over Venezuela’s Diana Maestre. Thai top seed Thananya Somnuek eased into the 63kg semi-finals with a dominant victory by referee’s stoppage in the third round over Miriam Hernandez Gonzalez of Mexico. The Asian bronze medallist will fight Thi Linh Ha of Vietnam, who won by a split decision, denying Latvia its first World medal via Jekaterina Sorokina. Elena Babicheva of Russia looked on her way to victory, but did not win the way she would have liked – as her opponent Megan de Cler of IBA-Netherlands, suffered a serious injury in the third round which caused the contest to end by referee’s stoppage. Babicheva faces Aida Abikeyeva of Kazakhstan for a place in the final. Abikeyeva, the Asian champion, defeated Turkish boxer Esmanur Lok by a unanimous decision. Action continues on Friday with 24 semi-finals across the 12 weight categories. IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2025 is live-streamed fully on the IBA YouTube channel. All draws, schedules and results are available on IBA website. Photos can be found on IBA Flickr channel.  |
|
|
PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general. Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com |
PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
developed and maintained by dong secuya © 2025 philboxing.com. |
