Germany’s Stefanie Von Berge eliminated a European Champion at the Balkan Women’s Tournament
07 October 2021The new 7th edition of the Balkan Women’s Tournament opened with 14 elite contests in Sofia, Bulgaria. Germany’s Stefanie Von Berge won the bout of the day and eliminated Russia’s EUBC European Champion Aleksandra Ordina. Romania’s Claudia Nechita and Italy’s Olena Savchuk were the further heroes of the first day of boxing.
Bulgaria, Chile, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uzbekistan and Wales are attending in the 7th Balkan Women’s Tournament. Altogether 61 elite female boxer are competing in the event which is a preparation for the upcoming AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The Technical Delegate of the Balkan Women’s Tournament is Mr. Viorel Sima of Romania.
The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the health controls were the responsibility of the local organizers in Bulgaria avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the new edition of the Balkan Women’s Tournament.
The bout of the day
Russia’s Aleksandra Ordina was gold medallist at the 2016 EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships and she has got more than 10 years of international experiences. Despite of her excellent pedigree and high number of bouts, she could not expect easy bout at the light welterweight (63kg) against Germany’s Stefanie Von Berge. The 20-year-old German used her height advantage from the first seconds to keep the safest distance against the experienced Russian and landed shots from longer range. Von Berge’s nice technical skills and jabs decided their narrow contest which was one of the best ones in the opening day.
The surprise of the day
France’s Romane Moulai claimed gold medal at the EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships in Roseto degli Abruzzi this June therefore she was named as one of the favourites at the light bantamweight (52kg) in Sofia. The 22-year-old French met with Italy’s National Champion Olena Savchuk and she did not find her best distance in their contest. The Ukrainian-descent Italian used her best combinations against the younger French and eliminated the favourite.
The Round-up
Bulgaria’s Sevda Asenova is a veteran boxer who claimed gold medal in the EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships in 2016. The 36-year-old boxer had to meet first with Russia’s Daria Salinder in the quarter-finals of the light flyweight (48kg). Asenova did not expect an easy contest against the Russian but she had all of the experiences to manage the success of this bout.
Romania’s Claudia Nechita not only qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games but she advanced to the last eight in the event where she lost to only the eventual winner Sena Irie in a narrow quarter-final. The Romanian boxer returned in the Balkan Women’s Tournament and faced with Hungary’s Szabina Szucs in a re-match after their first meeting at the European Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event. Nechita was highly confident in their second contest and eliminated her Hungarian rival with top performance.
Finland sent two boxers to the Balkan Women’s Tournament and their new national team member Johanna Huttunen opened her campaign well enough on Day1. She moved down to the lightweight (60kg) and her job is hard as she has to replace Finland’s two-time Olympic Games bronze medallist icon, Mira Potkonen in the national team. Huttunen was not nervous in her first Balkan Women’s Tournament and defeated Slovenia’s Vida Rudolf winning the bout by unanimous decision.
