Samsun- The Olympic Qualification Tournament draws to a close. Technical and spectacular success. President Wu and Vice President Falcinelli take stock of the situation. #Samsun2016
14 April 2016
Samsun 2016
AIBA’s President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu, and AIBA’s Vice President – as well as EUBC President – Franco Falcinelli, on the eve of the finals of the European qualifying tournament for Rio, held a crowded press conference to take stock of the tournament situation and discuss AIBA future plans. They informed the local and international press that the next 1st June in Lausanne, Switzerland, will be held an AIBA congress, which will probably lead to regulatory and statutory developments.
Dr. Falcinelli, who was in charge of the event, had words of praise for the excellent organization and the high technical skills they showed. After a week of tough matches in the picturesque Turkish city of Samsun, at Mustafa Dagistanli Spor Salonu, the Olympic Qualification tournament draws to an end, and brings to the semi-finals forty men and twelve women.
Such rich event in high technical and spectacular content, confirmed again that Europe has the most high-level boxers. Many of the excluded would have deserved to participate in the Olympics, unfortunately though the normative mechanism doesn’t allow to promote a higher number of athletes.
During the eliminatory rounds, the majority decisions showed how the matches were balanced. This is confirmed by the fact that lots of top seed boxers were eliminated before the semi-finals. For instance, number one and two in the 49 kg seeding, Zamotaev (UKR) and Hseynov (AZE), were defeated by Cappai (ITA) and Carmona (ESP). In order to access to the finals, Cappai and Carmona will have to come up against Hovhannisyan (ARM) and Yafai (ENG).
In the flyweight category, the only top seed that missed the bus for the podium is Picardi (ITA), who was defeated by the quick Abgaryan (ARM).
Another Armenian, Avagyan won in the bantamweight category against Gokcek (TUR) during the quarter finals. Also Ashfaq (ENG), Butsenko (UKR) and Chalabyev (AZE) were promoted to the following stage.
In the Light weights, category full of champions, the three top seeds Oumiha (Fra), Joyce (Irl) and Cordina (G.B.) went to podium, Dimitrov (BUL) lost with Gokcek (TUR) after a sensational bout. Sotomayor, ex Cuban, now Azerbaijani nationalized pass to semifinal after a very intense bout (2-1) against Walsh (IRL). The other three places went to Gozcec (TUR), Bachkov (ARM) and Kontrecz (HUN) welcome change of the category.
In the welterweights, Stanionis (LIT) and Mangiacapre (ITA) Belous (MDA) and Margaryan (ARM) reconfirmed their primary leadership. The Medium weights surprise Mbilli (FRA), hard punch and quick rhythm, won against Kujala (FIN). Tomorrow he will fight against Fowler (ENG), then the last German boxer Paskal will fight against Harcsa (HUN). In the Light Heavyweight Mullenberg (NLD), Unal (TUR) Khyzhniak (UKR) and Buatsi (ENG) prevailed on Mammadov (AZE), Kushitashvili (RUS) and Michel (GER).
In the Heavyweight Abdullayev (AZE) pass to the next stage after an intense bout against O’Neil (IRL). Okolie (G.B), Omba (FRA) and Manukian (UKR) pass as well at the next round.
In the +91kg, Balberov (BUL) was defeated by Bernath (HUN) who will find Joyce – the giant from G.B – in the next bout. The other two semi-final slots goes to Demirezen (TUR) and Majidov (AZE) already World Champion in the 2011 and 2013 who struggled a lot in the bout with the young Italian Vianello.
The Women Tournament was very surprising, Two of the three Russian Sagataeva (51) and Beliakova (60) out from the podium; just Ikushina (75) goes to the semifinals. The Bulgarian Team is the only one two goes to the semifinal with two boxers Petrova (51) and Staneva(60) who will find the youn Italian Testa (18 years old) pleasant surprise of the tournament. In the 75 Kg we will see Iakishina (BUL) against Scheurich (GER) and the expert Laurel (SWE) against Szamtmaru (HUN).
Statistically, Samsun Tournament is that one with the highest number of participants 207 men and 56 women, 39 National Federations represented; 27 of them registered women boxers as well. 15 different NFs on the Podium for the men and 10 different National Federations for the women Tournament.
The finals are held on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17. Next AIBA events will be in Astana Kazakhstan from the 13th to the 22nd of May with the World Women Championships in which there will be assigned 4 passes for each category.
From 7th to 19th of June in Azerbaijan last chance for the WSB APB and AOB male and women with 39 pass for Rio 2016. After the European Qualification Event, the assigned pass will be 174 for men and 20 for women; that’s after the first 60 pass assigned in 2015, 30 pass from the 2016 African and Asian & Oceania Qualification Tournaments; 23 pass from the American Tournament more the 14 pass for Women.
Giuliano Orlando.
