Russia is the most successful nation after the preliminaries in the Ulan-Ude 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

The winners of the seventh and last preliminary day advanced to the quarter-finals at the Ulan-Ude 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Russia. Following seven days of preliminary matches the best 79 boxers remained in actions and among them 32 are Europeans from 15 countries. Russia is the most successful nation after the preliminaries, eight out of their 10-strong team are still in action.

The following 24 European nations are attending in the Ulan-Ude 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Yekaterinburg: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.

Bout of the day

Russia’s Saadat Dalgatova started her career as Saadat Abdulaeva and achieved silver medal at the Jeju 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Following a short break, she returned to the world of boxing and won the title at the welterweight (69kg) in the Russian National Championships this year which was guaranteed her place in their squad in Ulan-Ude. Dalgatova had to meet with Germany’s Seed No.2 Nadine Apetz who achieved bronze medals in the recent two editions of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The 31-year-old Russian tried to control the first round against her top German rival who tried to use her longer reach in the bout. Dalgatova felt the support of the local crowd and bowed out her German rival out of the way which means she needs only one further step to get a medal on home soil.

Surprise of the day

Germany’s Ursula Gottlob joined to the national elite team only one and half year ago but she attended several international tournaments in this period which she combined with training camps. The German boxer moved up to the bantamweight (54kg) in the recent months and in her preliminary bout she was seriously motivated against Belarus’ EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Yulia Apanasovich. Gottlob surprised her Belarusian rival with her tough combinations and eliminated the favourite of the bout advancing to the last eight in Ulan-Ude.

The Round-Up

France’s Caroline Cruveillier was gold medallist in the 2019 EUBC European Women’s U22 Boxing Championships in Vladikavkaz this March and returned to Russia to achieve another top result. The 21-year-old French had to meet in the last 16 with an even younger boxer Thailand’s Preedakamon Tintabthai who is newcomer in their elite national team. The Thai talent, who claimed bronze at the Taipei 2015 AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships, was competitive but Cruveillier counter-attacks paid off the in the final round which decided their narrow fight.

Finland’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist and European Games winner Mira Potkonen knocked out Switzerland’s Sandra Brugger in the first preliminary round of the lightweight (60kg). The Seed No.1 of the weight class has got only one bronze medal from the history of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships therefore her motivation is high in Ulan-Ude. Finland’s veteran overpowered Ecuador’s Maria Jose Palacios and she arrived also to the Top8 in Ulan-Ude as many of the European stars.

Ireland’s two-time EUBC European Women’s U22 Champion Amy Broadhurst replaced the defending AIBA Women’s World Champion of the lightweight (60kg) Kellie Harrington, but following her success over Poland’s Aneta Rygielska, she is already in the quarter-finals. Her teammate, southpaw Christina Desmond from Macroom defeated Canada’s veteran Myriam Da Silva unanimously at the welterweight (69kg) which means Ireland has got two remaining boxers in the event.

Poland’s Minsk 2019 European Games winner Karolina Koszewska returned from the professional world and she was more experienced than Uzbekistan’s 17-year-younger Shakhnoza Yunusova in their welterweight (69kg) bout. Koszewska used her longer reach and her massive height advantage guaranteed her success in Ulan-Ude. In another great fight in this weight class, Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli used her strength to beat Italy’s Assunta Canfora on Day7.

Statistics before the quarter-finals in Ulan-Ude

The following nations have got at least one remaining boxer in the quarter-finals of the Ulan-Ude 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships:

• Russia: 8 boxers
• China, United States of America: 7 boxers
• India: 5 boxers
• Kazakhstan, Turkey: 4 boxers
• Italy, Chinese Taipei, Thailand: 3 boxers
• Bulgaria, DPR Korea, England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Vietnam: 2 boxers
• Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Lithuania, Mongolia, Poland, Scotland, Tajikistan, Wales: 1 boxer