VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thi Hue city is one step closer to entering the second round of the AIBA Women’s World Championships’ qualifier, thanks to her victory on Sunday in Ningbo City, China.

Hue is the only Vietnamese fighter who pocketed victory on the second day of the competition. Her rival in the next round will be Ri Chung-son from North Korea.

Her teammate Nguyen Thi Hoa lost to Gabuco Josie of the Philippines, 3-7 in the 46kg class. Later Nguyen Thi Vui was defeated 5-7 by Indian Sushmari Yadav in the 60kg pool.

One of the most fascinating bouts saw Jamila Jones of Trinidad and Tobago overcome Viet Nam’s Ngo Thi Chung in their 57kg contest 4-3. This was the first time Trinidad and Tobago, who have three boxers on ground, have competed in the AIBA Women’s World Championships. Jones, a 2007 and 2008 Pan American Games bronze medalist, was ecstatic with her victory after clinching the third and final round 3-2.

“I am extremely proud of Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamila particularly, for the way they have performed in this tournament,” AIBA Women’s Commission chairperson Joyce Bowen, from Barbados, said. “Participation in this tournament is great for the Caribbean region, as it is for the team. This tournament is about gaining experience, however, and to win a bout like today will give the country and the region a tremendous boost.”

Over the next few days, Viet Nam will have five boxers compete in the 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 60kg and 63kg categories.

Champions ousted

One world champion was knocked out of the Ningbo City’s event after losing on day two of the preliminaries, while Mary Kom was one of five world champions to progress to the Ningbo Youngor Gymnasium on Sunday.

The shock of the day saw 86kg world champion and European champion Elena Surkova of Russia go down to China’s three-time national champion, Asian champion and 2006 World Championships quarter-finalist Zhang Li Na in a terrific contest. Zhang came down on the former champ 2-1 to clinch the crucial Heavyweight clash.

India’s ’Magnificent’ Mary Kom, a three-time world champion who returned to boxing after giving birth to twin boys in August last year, was the star of the day, beating Japan’s Risa Sugimoto 24-1 in one of the opening 46kg contests.

Kom has competed in every edition of the AIBA Women’s World Championships and, at 25, she is showing no signs of slowing down. She admitted that she was inspired to return to the ring after India’s outstanding performances at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Other world champions who will join Kom in the next round included compatriot and Asian champion 52kg Laishram Sarita who beat France’s two-time European Union champion Ouchen Saliha 12-5: Russia’s two-time world champion and team captain Sofya Ochigava, 21, who beat Ukraine’s Mariya Sobchuk 15-2 in their 57kg preliminary clash, while Canada’s Mary Spencer, the 2005 world champion, and Ariane Fortin both advanced in the 66kg and 70kg divisions after beating England’s Amanda Coulson 13-4.

Meanwhile Australia’s Claire Ghabrial also pulled ahead by claiming the third and final round other 63kg bout against 2007 European Championship silver medalist Oliwa Luczak of Poland 3-1 to win 5-4. In another disappointing result for Poland, Kazakhstan’s Shakhnoza Issakhanova beat 2006 World Championship bronze medalist Jagoda Karge on a countback after their 52kg bout was tied 7-7.

The Chinese championships have drawn more than 230 rivals from 42 countries and territories.

The host, Ukraine and Russia sent the highest number of athletes at 13, with one competing in each weight category.

Boxing strong centres such as Kazakhstan, Turkey, Canada and North Korea each sent 10 representatives.

However, Thailand, a powerhouse in Southeast Asia, did not compete. The region saw a total of 18 athletes from the region, with Indonesia sending four rivals, the Philippines six and Viet Nam eight.

To prepare for the upcoming 25th SEA Games in Laos next December, Vietnamese opponents have not set any targets for this event. The young athletes were only asked to familiarise themselves with pressure in international and professional tournaments. The event should provide them with as much experience as possible for competitions in the future.

According to the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA), this is the most number of participants the tournament has seen after five editions. They hope that it would be a strong force to push the development of women’s boxing.

The championships will conclude on November 29.

(Source: Viet Nam News)