Heck and Yalgettekin impressed in the women’s quarter-finals in Budva

The women’s quarter-finals were held at the fifth competition day at the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships in Budva, Montenegro where the winners are now medallists in the event. Germany’s Jenin Heck won the most difficult contests of the day while Turkey’s Nurselen Yalgettekin delivered the main sensation of the session.

Excluding the women’s heavyweight (+81kg), boxers from all of the other 11 female categories were in action in the fifth day of boxing in Montenegro. The EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships is live streamed in the EUBC website as all of the previous competitions in 2021.

Boxers who were born in 2003 and in 2004 are eligible to attend in the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships in Budva. The event will be introduced also the new youth weight categories, the girls can attend in 12 while the boys in 13 different weight classes in Montenegro. The Technical Delegate of the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships is Mrs. Susanne Karrlander of Sweden.

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine are competing in the event in Budva.

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 Montenegro avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships.

The bout of the day

Germany’s Jenin Heck and Netherlands’ Luna Beeloo had the similar level of experiences in the international events therefore their meeting was one of the tightest battles in the fifth day of boxing. Heck competed also at the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships but Beeloo delivered also medals from international tournaments. Heck, who will be turning to 18 only later this year, tried to gain the control of the bout in the first round and used her distance well enough. The 18-year-old Dutch girl proved that she is a strong future talent but Heck had the stamina to win their narrow contest at the light welterweight (63kg). The German will be facing in the semi-finals with Turkey’s powerful Asude Ediz Ece who stopped a Belarusian opponent.

The surprise of the day

Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska was silver medallist at the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and arrived to Budva as the main favourite for the gold medal at the light flyweight (48kg). The 18-year-old Polish girl met in the quarter-final with Turkey’s Nurselen Yalgettekin and she was confident prior the contest. Kuczewska used her well-known strategy from Kielce but her Turkish opponent surprised her with effectiveness and strength. Yalgettekin is not an experienced international level boxer but she eliminated the favourite of the weight class.

The Round-up

Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic achieved silver medal at the 2020 EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships and the 17-year-old talent joined to the youth age group this year. The best Serbian hope in Budva met with Norway’s Jenny Simonsen who returned to the international events only last month at the Silesian Women’s Open Tournament. Cirkovic impressed with energetic attacks and she had the skills and stamina to eliminate her Norwegian rival who was also born in 2004 as the Serbian girl. Cirkovic will now meet in the semi-finals with Denmark’s No.1 Sofie Vinther Rosshaug.

Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic competed in the international stage already at the age of 13 and after five years of strong experiences, she is one of the key female boxers in the whole European continent. The two-time EUBC European Junior Champion is also titleholder in the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships and she was excellent in her quarter-final against Spain’s Nayara Arroyo Rodriguez. The Montenegrin featherweight (57kg) boxer controlled all of the three rounds and advanced to the semi-finals on home soil. Gojkovic will be meeting with Sweden’s Zehra Milli in the last four who eliminated Finland’s Teresa Maekinen.

Romania’s defending EUBC European Youth Champion Loredana Marin won her first bout on Day3 and she continued her winning path in the quarter-finals of the lightweight (60kg). The 18-year-old Romanian dictated the tempo against Turkey’s Berfin Polat and she took the lead on the scorecards after three minutes. Marin stepped into the gas and she could finish her contest before the final gong following her strong attacks. The Romanian will be boxing in the semi-finals with Russia’s Nadezhda Golubeva which is one of the most anticipated contests in the women’s event.

You can follow the Day6 actions LIVE from the EUBC Youth European
Boxing Championships Budva 2021 here:
Day6, Session19, Ring A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvWYHmxBNEQ
Day6, Session20, Ring B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjsZKzl9zw4