Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament recap and results

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The Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament recently took place in Turkestan, Kazakhstan where some of the most exciting boxing prospects in the world took part. This tournament was named after the super talented Bekzat Sattarkhanov who won the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as a teenager, but sadly passed away a year later in a car accident. Athlete of the tournament Kazakhstan’s Bek Nurmaganbet won the gold medal in the Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup one year ago, and joined the youth age group in January. Although just 16­years­old, he was strong enough to beat his main rival, Kazakhstan’s Gabit Omirali in the final of the Middleweight class (75 kg). Nurmaganbet’s triumph was a real revenge as he lost to Omirali in the Kazakh Youth National Championships in February, and the gold medalist could be a possible star of the 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. Team of the tournament Kazakhstan claimed ten out of the twelve gold medals in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament, where Bakhtygul Askarova won the first final in the Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg) when she was too good for Uzbekistan’s newcomer Tursunoy Rakhimova. Kazakh Youth National Championships silver medallist Orazbek Asylkulov won the first gold medal in the men’s part of the competition, and Nurislam Kaskayev achieved success at Flyweight (52 kg). Kazybek Sapenov and Karzhay Sadykov were further male winners for the host nation, while 18­year­old Light Welterweight class (64 kg) Demezhan Saydagali provided a great performance in Turkestan and secured a valuable gold in the event. Astana­based 18­year­old Nurbolat Sermakhanov was a silver medallist in the Youth National Championships of Kazakhstan, but this time he was able to change it into a gold. Surprises of the tournament Kazakhstan’s Elaman Abdali achieved a surprise a surprise when he beat ASBC Asian Junior Continental Championships silver medallist Azat Ilyubayev in the final of the Welterweight class (69 kg). Kuanysh Bakyt defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Evgen Kuzhelny Youth Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Tashtemir Ryskulov in the semi­finals, and Uzbekistan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Eldar Merzhanov in the gold medal bout of the Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg). The 18­year­old boxer only reached the quarter­finals in the Kazakh Youth National Championships in February, however his skills were developed to beat excellent athletes in this tournament. Ones to watch Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Continental Championships silver medallist Bakhromjon Fozilov is a highly rated Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer, and defeated China’s Yusupjang Tabusi in their final. Fozilov’s younger teammate Maftunakhon Meliyeva is also a talented teenager, and she also succeeded over all of her rivals in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament. Stat/fact of the tournament 209 boxers took part in the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament, where women’s athletes competed for the very first time.

List of the winners in Turkestan Women’s 51 kg: Bakhtygul Askarova, Kazakhstan Women’s 60 kg: Maftunakhon Meliyeva, Uzbekistan Men’s 49 kg: Orazbek Asylkulov, Kazakhstan Men’s 52 kg: Nurislam Kaskayev, Kazakhstan Men’s 56 kg: Kazybek Sapenov, Kazakhstan Men’s 60 kg: Karzhay Sadykov, Kazakhstan Men’s 64 kg: Demezhan Saydagali, Kazakhstan Men’s 69 kg: Elaman Abdali, Kazakhstan Men’s 75 kg: Bek Nurmaganbet, Kazakhstan Men’s 81 kg: Bakhromjon Fozilov, Uzbekistan Men’s 91 kg: Nurbolat Sermakhanov, Kazakhstan Men’s +91 kg: Kuanysh Bakyt, Kazakhstan

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