Tough Romanian performance in the elite part of the Nations Women’s Cup
16 January 2018One of the biggest ever Nations Women’s Cup was held in the city of Sombor in Serbia which opened the European boxing calendar in 2018. The Romanian elite boxers exceeded all of the previous expectations in the Nations Women’s Cup in Sombor where 11 titles were won by European competitors.
The Nations Women’s Cup was held for the elite, youth and junior female boxers in Sombor where the crowd saw altogether 157 athletes from 25 countries. Among the developing European female boxing countries Montenegro, Slovakia and Greece also competed in the 7th edition of the Nations Women’s Cup.
The European female elite boxers have been preparing to the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships which will be held in Wladyslawowo in Poland on May.
Furthermore the younger age group, the youth talents are trying to raise their international experiences before the EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships which will be the lone qualification tournament for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
Serbia’s Bojana Dragicevic competed well in the junior age group in 2017 when she spent her first year among them. The 16-year-old Serbian talent is now an experienced junior boxer who had all the advantage against Netherlands’ Josefien Betist in the final of their featherweight (57kg). The final verdict was unanimous decision for the host nation’s pride.
Serbia’s second gold medal was achieved by Zorana Nikolic who exceeded all of the previous expectations when she defeated Kazakhstan’s Aiman Karshyga winning the women’s youth light flyweight (48kg) in Sombor. Nikolic won their contest by split decision which title was her career highlight.
The final between Russia’s Liubov Sharapova and China’s promising Liu Jiaqi, who competed at the AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships in Guwahati, should have been a tough fight but the result was a surprise in Sombor. The Russian youth boxer launched lethal punches therefore the referee confirmed her RSC success.
Poland’s Beata Kaluza shocked her teammate Dominika Pogrzebska who eliminated Hungary’s Hanna Lakotar in the semi-final of the youth bantamweight (54kg). Pogrzebska was the favourite of their Polish final but Kaluza knew her compatriot and used the perfect tactic to win their difficult contest.
Slovakia’s two-time EUBC European Junior Champion Jessica Triebelova had to meet with Latvia’s EUB European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Jekaterina Marcenko in the final of the youth featherweight (57kg). Both boxers are bests in their women’s boxing life but this time Triebelova did it better and her effective punches meant Slovakia also achieved one title in Sombor.
Serbia’s next top youth talent Aleksandra Rapaic spent only short time in the ring in spite of the fact she was nervous before her final against Croatia’s Ivona Brnic. Following her RSC triumph Latvia’s 17-year-old Madara Brikmane, who is a new face at the youth middleweight (75kg) in their national team, was able to beat Norway’s Michelle Heimdal by split decision in their final bout.
Romania’s EUBC European Women’s Champion Steluta Duta is one of the most experienced elite light flyweight (48kg) boxer in our continent and she had to show her current skills to Kazakhstan’s three-time National Champion Alina Turlubayeva in the final of the opening competitions of the year. Duta has done it and finally her hand was raised after the last gong in Sombor.
Romania’s Claudia Nechita did an amazing comeback in the Nations Women’s Cup where she triumphed over Kazakhstan’s Rio 2016 Olympian Zhaina Shekerbekova in the final of the elite flyweight (51kg). Romania’s third elite title was achieved by Lacramioara Perijoc who did enough and defeated Kazakhstan’s super talented Nazym Ishchanova in the final of the elite featherweight (57kg).
Russia’s Natalia Sychugova is a young team member at the elite welterweight (69kg) who joined to the elite age group only a few days ago but her confident style delivered to her first international title. The native Russian talent was too quick for Ukraine’s Lina Karicheska therefore Sychugova celebrated her title.
