Aliu and Azemi continued their triumphs at the Lah Nimani Youth Tournament in Kosovo
04 October 2020The nine finals were held at the Lah Nimani Youth Tournament in Prishtina, Kosovo which is a traditional event for the age group in Europe. Kosovo’s promising Luar Aliu and North Macedonia’s best boxer Ardian Azemi won their weight classes in the new edition of the Lah Nimani Youth Tournament.
Boxers who were born in 2002 and in 2003 were eligible to attend in the Lah Nimani Youth Tournament in Prishtina. Kosovo Boxing Federation’s main youth international tournament was held at the Pallati I Sporteve Prishtina. The gold medals of the event have been shared between Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia.
The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the controls were the responsibility of the local organizers in Prishtina to avoid any Covid-19 cases in the event.
Bout of the day
Kosovo’s Luar Aliu advance to the finals in the last edition of the Lah Nimani Youth Tournament and he has done the same performance in the weekend. The 18-year-old boxer had to meet with his fellow Lorent Murati in the final of the bantamweight (56kg) in Prishtina. Aliu, who attended also several other smaller international events, controlled all of the rounds against Murati and claimed a tournament title. Aliu has been preparing to the upcoming EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships where he is planning to do surprises.
The surprise of the day
Albania’s Jurgen Peposhi is a Tirana-based light welterweight (64kg) boxer who achieved silver medal at the 2020 Pavaresia International Tournament this February. The Albanian boxer returned to Kosovo to show his upgraded technical skills and advanced to the finals in Prishtina. Peposhi met with Kosovo’s local favourite Loris Idrizi at the light welterweight (64kg) and managed to win his first ever international tournament title.
The Round-up
Albania’s Ergys Toqi is a new addition to their youth national team who had a tough fight against Kosovo’s Leonit Gubetini who trains in a boxing family. The final verdict of their close battle was split decision in the favour of Toqi who won his first title. His teammate, Albania’s Besjor Gjetaj had a strong performance in the next final against Kosovo’s Bleart Rexhepi and he also won his first international gold medal.
Albania’s Santiago Selimaj lost to Kosovo’s Erdonis Maliqi in the final of the 2019 Lah Nimani Youth Tournament. The Albanian boxer remained at the welterweight (69kg) and arrived back to the Lah Nimani Youth Tournament. The 18-year-old Selimaj impressed with his strength in Prishtina and landed seriously tough combinations against North Macedonia’s Milan Petkovski. The referee stopped their bout in final and confirmed Selimaj’s RSC triumph to save Petkovski’s health.
North Macedonia’s Ardian Azemi is the country’s top talent who won several international events during his career. Azemi defeated Bulgarian and Kazakh boxers at the Emil Zhechev Junior Memorial Tournament when he earned the gold medal of his weight class. He joined to the youth age group this January and proved his impressive talent at the Lah Nimani Youth Tournament where he stopped Albania’s Klodian Doda at the heavyweight (91kg).
