Russia’s EUBC European Junior Champion Elena Zhilyayeva was the hero of the day at the Nations Women’s Cup
18 January 2019The 8th edition of the Nations Women’s Cup continued wits its second competition day in Sombor, Serbia where 37 bouts were held in two sessions. Russia’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Champion Elena Zhilyayeva eliminated her top rival on Day2 when Montenegro, Serbia and Greece also won key contests in Sombor.
Altogether 177 female boxers have been fighting for the medals in the Nations Women’s Cup which is traditionally opens the actions of the year. All of the four age groups the elite, the youth, the junior and the schoolgirls can attend in the Nations Women’s Cup. The winners of the second competition day remained their chance alive to win the titles of this strong international event.
Bout of the day
Russia’s Elena Zhilyayeva claimed gold medal at the Sofia 2017 EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships and joined to the youth age group in 2018. The Russian talent achieved bronze medal in their Youth National Championships a few months ago but she is planning another strong breakthrough in 2019.
The 17-year-old Russian had to meet in a top youth bout with Germany’s Stefanie Von Berge who achieved bronze medal in the last edition of the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Youth Boxing Championships and was the hero of the first competition day in Sombor. The 17-year-old German moved up to the welterweight (69kg) from the lightweight (60kg) but she looked more tired after her first contest and Zhilyayeva found the best attacks in time to eliminate her top rival in Sombor. The final verdict was split decision to Zhilyayeva who proved her talent once again and this time already in the youth age group.
Surprise of the day
Kazakhstan’s Moldir Toikova arrived from a boxing family but she is inexperienced in the international stage yet. The 17-year-old Kazakh youth boxer has done the biggest surprise of the second competition day when she eliminated Hungary’s EUBC European Confederation Women’s Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Bettina Kiss in their youth bantamweight (54kg) battle.
Round-Up
Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic is the defending EUBC European Women’s Junior Champion and she opened her campaign in Sombor in style where she eliminated Greece’s Eleni Cholidi at the junior light bantamweight (52kg). The energetic Gojkovic moved ahead without any stoppage and finally her hand was raised after the last gong.
Another junior battle was held between Greece’s Antonia Giannakopoulou and Latvia’s No.1 in that age group Nikolina Boke at the bantamweight (54kg). The 16-year-old Greek talent had effective punches and delivered the best ever performance during her career which was enough to beat the best Latvian hope.
Hungary’s Szabina Szucs attended in the last three edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships therefore her experiences were higher than her first opponent’s one Serbia’s Ivana Stanojev. The 26-year-old Hungarian bantamweight (54kg) boxer destroyed the defence of her Serbian opponent and the referee confirmed her RSC success in the second round.
The young Serbian elite hopes shined at the featherweight (57kg) in the second competition day of the Nations Women’s Cup. Firstly Jelena Zekic defeated Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Oshakbay in a fantastic bout, secondly her teammate Andjela Brankovic controlled her fight against Russia’s Aleksandra Zhuravleva. Both Serbian talents are preparing to the upcoming EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships.
