Huswatun Hasanah Sets Indonesian Record At ASBC Championships

The women’s semi-finals were held on the fourth competition day at the ASBC Asian Men’s & Women’s Elite Boxing Championships in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. On this day, Asian Games bronze medallist Huswatun Hasanah became the first Indonesian woman boxer who advanced to the finals of championships, and Kazakhstan, India and Uzbekistan were the best nations.

Uzbekistan’s Gulasal Sultonalieva made the main surprise of the session

Uzbekistan’s Gulasal Sultonalieva was born in 1999, the young talent was invited to the national team three years ago at the age of 19. She lost her first contest at the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in India, but the young Uzbek was able to do surprises in the next 2019 edition in Ulan-Ude. The light flyweight (48kg) boxer competed in several international tournaments in recent months. Her semi-final opponent was the Philippines’ defending champion Josie Gabuco who won also the Best Woman Boxer Trophy in Bangkok two years ago.

The 22-year-old Uzbek talent used an aggressive attacking style against the technician Filipino veteran and surprised Gabuco. Sultonalieva had fantastic effectiveness in the contest which shocked her opponent who had to step on the gas in the second part of the bout. The Filipino landed a few nice hooks, however, Sultonalieva’s celebrated the overall success. The Uzbek girl will be meeting for the gold medal with Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkybekova in a re-match following her neighbouring opponent eliminated India’s Monika.

India’s star Mary Kom remains her chance for the next title alive

The world’s most experienced and successful female boxer, India’s six-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte won five editions of the ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships and arrived in Dubai aiming to get her next title. The 38-year-old Indian veteran had a tough semi-final contest against Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg and she had to do her very best to manage the success in the flyweight (51kg). The Indian knew her opponent and she used better tactical responses in the second round and won their tough bout by split decision.

“There are not so many international competitions, therefore, I decided to attend the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Dubai. I competed in the Boxam Tournament in Spain two months ago and since then I trained at home in India but many of my sparring partners have been tested positive. If you win, you don’t have to overestimate the success, just continue your hard work. I am not overconfident and looking forward my final against the well-known Kazakh boxer,” commented Mary Kom.

Indonesia’s first-ever woman finalist is Huswatun Hasanah

Indonesia’s Huswatun Hasanah claimed a bronze medal at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games at the age of 20 and she used the recent one year to increase her physical condition. She arrived in her best shape to Dubai and eliminated a tough rival already in the quarter-finals of the lightweight (60kg). Hasanah had difficulties in the first round against Tajikistan’s more experienced Shoira Zulkaynarova but she tried to keep the suitable distance against the tall opponent. The Indonesian increased her rhythm and had a few good hooks in their tactical semi-final. The final verdict was a split decision in the favour of Hasanah who is the first-ever Indonesian woman boxer who advanced to the final of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.

Tomorrow’s schedule at the 2021 ASBC Asian Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships

The second part of the semi-finals will be held on the fifth competition day at the ASBC Asian Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships. The twenty men’s semi-finals are scheduled for the fifth day of boxing in Dubai where the contests will start on Friday at 6 pm local time.