Serbia’s Sara Skapik eliminated an experienced Russian at the Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament
06 September 2021Nineteen semi-final bouts were held in the fourth competition day at the 39th edition of the Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament in Subotica, Serbia. A local boxer, Sara Skapik impressed in the fourth day of boxing and eliminated Russia’s Daria Panteleeva at the women’s lightweight (60kg).
The 39th Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament is a strong preparation event before the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships which will be held in Budva, Montenegro in October. Mr. Viorel Sima of Romania is the Technical Delegate of the new edition of the Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament.
The last edition was held in the most difficult Covid-19 period therefore the interest to attend in this traditional event is high this year. The total number of the participating nations is 15 in the Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament. Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine sent their youth talents to Serbia. Altogether 106 bouts will be held in the competition which is the highlight of the week in the whole boxing world. Among them 63 contests already finished in Subotica.
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 Serbia to avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the new Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament.
The bout of the day
Russia’s Anastasia Kirienko claimed several medals in the major competitions in the recent three years including gold at the EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships. She achieved bronze medal at the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships this April and arrived to Subotica as the main favourite of the women’s bantamweight (54kg). Kirienko had a tough rival in the last four, Greece’s Antonia Giannakopoulou who had a surprise success in the quarter-finals. The Greek girl was a competitive rival for the Russian but Kirienko had a strong finish to beat her rival on Day4. Kirienko will be boxing for the gold medal with her teammate, Valeria Linkova who achieved also European titles in the recent years.
The surprise of the day
Serbia’s Sara Skapik competed in international events already in 2017 as a schoolgirl but she was not the favourite against Russia’s Daria Panteleeva who competed at the Kielce 2021 AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships. The Serbian lightweight (60kg) girl caught the Russian boxer in close distance and she tried to keep the pressure until the final gong. Skapik managed to win their tactical contest and will be boxing for the title with Russia’s two-time EUBC European Junior Champion Nadezhda Golubeva.
The Round-up
Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic won the EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships in 2018 and in 2019. She started her youth career with another European gold medal in 2020 and she is aiming to get her fourth title in Budva next month. The Montenegrin featherweight (57kg) boxer returned to the international events in the Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament. Following her good start, she defeated also Hungary’s Beata Varga controlling all of the three rounds in Subotica. Gojkovic will be meeting for the gold medal with Russia’s Alina Pushkar who stopped Hungary’s Evelin Nagy.
Bulgaria’s promising star Radoslav Rosenov lost only one bout this year and arrived to Subotica in top shape. The 18-year-old Bulgarian lightweight (60kg) boxer eliminated Romania’s Andrei Mustet in the semi-final and will be meeting with Ukraine’s Danylo Dryzhak in the final. Bulgaria’s EUBC European Junior Champion Krasimir Dzhurov moved up to the light welterweight (63.5kg) and he is now finalist in Subotica following his success over Romania’s Andrei Mustet. The 18-year-old Bulgarian will be facing for the title with Hungary’s Rafael Buza who eliminated Ukraine’s Volodymyr Gorzov.
