The quarterfinals schedule of the inaugural WBSC Premier12 has been determined, following an electric Opening Round (Games 1-30) that has generated record TV ratings in the host nation and concluded Sunday night with world No. 1 Japan and No. 7 Canada having gone undefeated to win their respective groups, while four of the Top 12 competing nations have been eliminated.
All four quarterfinals contests will take place on Monday in Taoyuan and Taichung (all times local):
Gm. 31: CAN (A1) vs MEX (B4) in Taichung at 12:30p
Gm. 32: CUB (A2) vs KOR (B3) in Taichung at 18:30
Gm. 33: USA (B2) vs NED (A3) in Taoyuan at 12:30p
Gm. 34: JPN (B1) vs PUR (A4) in Taoyuan at 18:30
The winner of Game 31 will face the winner of Game 33, while the winner of Game 32 will meet the winner of Game 34 in the semifinals.
Following the quarterfinals, the next phase of this new flagship global tournament will move to Japan’s Tokyo Dome, where the semifinals, bronze medal match and the Premier12 global championship finale (Games 35-38) will take place from 19-21 November.
NB: Dates for the semifinals (Games 35 on the 19th and 36 on the 20th) are subject to being changed for one another following the outcome of the quarterfinals.
Opening Round – Final Standings
Pos.Group A Wins Losses
1 Canada 5 0
2 Cuba 3 2
3 Netherlands 3 2
4 Puerto Rico 2 3
5 Chinese Taipei 2 3
6 Italy 0 5
Pos.Group B Win Losses
1 Japan 5 0
2 United States 3 2
3 S. Korea 3 2
4 Mexico 2 3
5 Venezuela 2 3
6 Dominican Rep. 0 5
All 38 games of the 2015 WBSC Premier12 are being live-streamed and free-to-view on the WBSC YouTube channel for those territories not covered by WBSC’s global broadcast partners.
Special real-time game coverage, instant replays via SnappyTV and post-game features are also being presented in collaboration with Twitter, the Official Social Media Partner of the WBSC Premier12.
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) today announced the prize money distribution for the first-ever WBSC Premier12™ global baseball championship, which will be staged from 8-21 November in Japan and Taiwan.
The WBSC will award US$ 3.8 million for the 38-game world baseball competition that will bring together the Top 12 nations (the “Premier12”) in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings.
The 2015 Premier12 winner will be awarded US$ 1.0 million, while each participating National Team will be guaranteed at least US$ 150,000 for less than two weeks of competition. The overseeing National Federations will distribute a minimum of 50 per cent of the prize money to the competing athletes.
2015 WBSC PREMIER12 PRIZE MONEY ALLOCATION
Position
Prize Money ($US)
Winner
1,000,000
2nd Place
600,000
3rd place
400,000
4th place
300,000
5-8th place
225,000 each
9-12th place
150,000 each
Total
3,800,000
The 2015 WBSC Premier12 will be the top international baseball event of the year, not only offering the largest purse but also the highest payout of world ranking points.
Earning the right to compete in the WBSC Premier12 are world No. 1 Japan, No. 2 United States, No. 3 Cuba, No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 6 Dominican Republic, No. 7 Canada, No. 8 South Korea, No. 9 Puerto Rico, No. 10 Venezuela, No. 11 Italy and No. 12 Mexico.
Top-ranked Japan and rival South Korea will meet in the first-ever WBSC Premier12 contest on 8 November at the 40,000-seat Sapporo Dome.
Among tune-up contests for the WBSC Premier12, South Korea will host Cuba for two games to officially open the new Gocheok Sky Dome, the first domed baseball stadium in the nation, from 4-5 November.
It has been announced that the table tennis test event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will be held 18-21 November 2015 in the Riocentro which is located in Barra da Tijuca.
The 2015 Aquece Rio International will host all four table tennis events that will feature at Rio 2016: Men’s Team, Women’s Team, Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, all following the format to be used for the Olympic Games.
The event is an opportunity for players, coaches and officials to test the venue, and the conditions to get ready for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games table tennis event, which will be held 6 – 17 August 2016.
The seven leading national associations on the May 2015 list plus the host nation Brazil are invited to compete in each of the 2015 Aquece Rio International Men’s Team and Women’s Team events.
In addition a further eight men and eight women, who are not involved in the team events, are invited to compete in the respective Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events. The eight players comprise the leading player from each continent on the May world ranking list (http://bit.ly/1PCUawZ) plus the two highest players who have not qualified by the preceding requisites.
Rio 2016 Qualifier Hugo Calderano will get a chance to play in front of his home fans ahead of 2016
Currently and depending on response, the invitations are as follows:
Men’s Team: 1. China 2. Germany 3. Japan 4. Korea Republic 5. Portugal 6. Hong Kong 7. Chinese Taipei Host. Brazil
Women’s Team: 1. China 2. Japan 3. Singapore 4. Korea Republic 5. Hong Kong 6. Korea DPR 7. Netherlands Host. Brazil
Men’s Singles:Africa: Omar Assar (Egypt), Asia: Gao Ning (Singapore), Vladimir Samsonov,Marcos Madrid (Mexico), North America: Eugene Wang (Canada) & Oceania: William Henzell (Australia)
Women’s Singles:Africa: Dina Meshref (Egypt), Asia: Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei), Europe: Han Ying (Germany), Latin America: Yadira Silva (Mexico), North America: Zhang Mo (Canada) & Oceania: Jian Fang Lay (Australia)
TAIPEI CITY — The official competition schedule, tournament bracket and full list of venues for the WBSC Premier12™ global baseball battle were revealed by the international governing body at a press conference in Taiwan’s capital.
(Download the Official 2015 WBSC Premier12 Competition Schedule and Opening Round Schedules for each country here.)
In November, the Top 12 countries from the WBSC Baseball World Rankings will unite for the first time ever in the Premier12 battle for pride that will challenge each nation to prove and defend its world rankings, with a US$ multi-million purse and large-scale bonus of ranking points at stake.
Thirty-eight global games will be staged across Taiwan’s Taichung Intercontinental Stadium, Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium, Tien-Mou Stadium and Dou-Liou Stadium, and Japan’s Sapporo Dome and Tokyo Dome, in order to determine the ultimate baseball nation.
Rivals world No. 1 Japan (2-time World Baseball Classic champions, 2014 U-21 Baseball World Cup silver medallists and 2013 U-18 Baseball World Cup silver medallists) and world No. 8 S. Korea (2014 Asian Games champions) will meet on 8 November in the historic Game 1/Group B opener. It will be the first time in 6 years that the star-filled/professional National Teams of Samurai Japan and S. Korea will face off against each other in what is sure to electrify the Sapporo Dome and set the tone for Premier12.
World No. 2 United States (2013 and 2012 U-18 Baseball World Cup champions, and 2013 U-12 Baseball World Cup champions) and world No. 6 Dominican Republic (2013 World Baseball Classic champions) are also in Group B and will make their debut together in Taoyuan on 10 November.
World No. 3 Cuba (2014 Central American and Caribbean Games champions, and 2014 U-15 Baseball World Cup champions) and world No. 7 Canada (2012 U-18 Baseball World Cup silver medallists and 2011 Pan-Am Games champions) are in Group A and will square off in Taichung on 10 November.
World No. 4 Chinese Taipei (2014 U-21 Baseball World Cup champions and 2012 U-18 Baseball World Cup bronze medalists) and world No. 5 Netherlands (2014 European champions and 2013 World Baseball Classic semifinalists) will open Group A action on 9 November in Taichung for the day’s sole/featured.
World No. 9 Puerto Rico (2nd place — 2013 World Baseball Classic) and world No. 11 Italy (2nd place — 2014 European Championship and 2013 World Baseball Classic quarter-finalists) will meet for the first time since 2013 when they open against each other in Taichung on 10 November.
World No. 10 Venezuela (2014 U-15 Baseball World Cup bronze medallists and 2012 U-15 Baseball World Cup champions) and world No. 12 Mexico (5th place 2014 U-15 Baseball World Cup and 4th place 2011 Pan Am Games).
Four of the Premier12-nations will be sent home after the first round, group stage (Games 1-30) taking place from 8-15 November. The eight surviving nations will advance to the heated knockout stage where it’s Group A versus Group B on 16 November in the quarter-finals (Games 31-34).
After the quarterfinal-KOs, four more nations will be eliminated and ushered back to their respective countries, while the four nations to successfully navigate through the first week of the Premier12 global battle will be flown from Taiwan to Tokyo for the climax of the event at the crown jewel venue, the Tokyo Dome, where the semi-finals — Game 35 on 19 November and Game 36 on 20 November — will be staged. The two countries defeated in the semi-finals will pair up for the bronze medal finale (Game 37) on 21 November, just ahead of the ultimate global game.
Winners of Games 35 and 36 will earn a ticket to play on the highest stage, where a US$ million dollar cash purse, a large bonus of world ranking points and the decisive battle for their country’s national pride and honour will be on the line. The two finalists will go head-to-head in the grand championship/gold medal finale on 21 November (Game 38).
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) — the second highest-attended sports league in the world in 2014 (surpassing 23 million in attendance) — and world-class organisers Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) are co-hosting the inaugural WBSC Premier12.
The Junior Finals of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 took place today, where nations such as Russia, India and the United States of America dominated the gold medal tally.
Many excellent performances in the ring delighted the watching crowd, and they all superbly displayed the uncapped potential of women’s boxing worldwide.
Bout of the day
Three-time US National Champion Guadelupe Gutierrez met with Donjeta Sadiku in the Junior Lightweight class (60 kg) final, with her opponent having already made history by becoming the first boxer from Kosovo to win a medal at an AIBA Championships.
In the final, both fighters produced strong performances full of effort and skill, but it was Gonzalez who was the superior athlete across all three rounds, as she used her power and speed to great effect.
After Gutierrez successfully managed to reduce the distance in round one, her continual attacks troubled the brave Sadiku, and Gutierrez clinched the gold medal to the delight of her coach and teammates.
AIBA Women’s JuniorYouth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 – Day 5
Team of the day
The Indian Junior team enjoyed a great day in Taipei where they earned three gold medals.
Star boxer Savita only joined India’s national team earlier this year, yet the 15-year-old outpointed Ukraine’s Kateryna Rohova in their Junior Flyweight class (50 kg) final.
Mandeep Kaur Sandhu delivered a second Indian gold as she defeated Ireland’s Golden Girl Women’s Junior Cup winner Niamh Earley in an engrossing contest.
Her teammate Sakshi then made it a hat-trick for India after her victory over US Junior National Champion Yarisel Ramirez.
Sakshi’s wonderful footwork was a key took in avoiding the punches of the US athlete, and helped her triumph at Junior Bantamweight (54 kg).
Surprises of the day
Despite having four years of boxing experience, United States’ Zhane Crockett was not the favourite heading into in her Junior Featherweight class (57 kg) final with Russia’s two-time National Champion Liudmilla Vorontsova.
Crockett seemed unfazed by the big occasion however, starting their fight strongly with sharp right hands which defined the first 30 seconds of action.
Vorontsova safely battled through the initial storm, and managed to impose her own tactics on the bout soon after.
As the fight progressed, the defence of each competitor approached a truly world class level, as neither could find the one shot that would change the dynamic of the event.
The last round was particularly entertaining with Vorontsova marching forward, but she was picked off by Crockett’s counter-attacks, which eventually led to the American being named the winner.
Russia’s Anastasia Shamonova and Karolina Makhno of Ukraine also delivered a blistering contest in Taipei, and both had important records to defend.
The Russian boxer had suffered just one career loss prior to the beginning of this tournament, while Makhno was undefeated.
With so much at stake, the boxers produced a dazzlingly entertaining fight, which was won by Shamonova who took home the gold medal, and snapped the winning streak of the previously unbeaten Ukrainian in the process.
Zheng Lu beats Chen Nien Chin in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
One to watch
After China’s Yu Lisai defeated Kazakhstan’s Laila Kussainova in the quarter-finals of the Nations Women’s Junior Cup in January, the two rematched in the final of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015.
Their second battle followed a similar pattern to the first, as Lisai secured wicked body shots in the opening round, and continued her dominance to claim the Junior Light Welterweight class (63 kg) gold.
Quote of the day
“I think my coach and myself both performed well enough against my opponent in today’s final. My winning tactic was to stay calm, and just do what I had to do at close distance. I am very happy to get the gold, but I do not think I will have much celebration at home in Sacramento as I will continue my hard training,” said Guadelupe Gutierrez after her gold medal in the Junior Lightweight class (60 kg).
Stat/Fact of the day
Russia topped the Junior medal rankings with four golds in Taipei, while the United States of America and India both claimed three gold medals in this section of the Championships.
Day 3 produces many surprises in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
57 kg: Zhane Crockett USA – Liudmilla Vorontsova RUS 2:1
60 kg: Guadelupe Gutierrez USA – Donjeta Sadiku KOS 3:0
63 kg: Yu Lisai CHN – Laila Kussainova KAZ 3:0
66 kg: Nadezhda Ryabets KAZ – Kylie Hall USA 2:1
70 kg: Anastasia Sigayeva RUS – Niharika Gonella IND 3:0
75 kg: Anastasia Shamonova RUS – Karolina Makhno UKR 3:0
80 kg: Elena Litvinova RUS – Dina Islambekova KAZ TKO 2nd round
+80 kg: Kristina Tkacheva RUS – Jessica Morka GER 2:1
Medallists of the AIBA Women’s Junior Boxing Championships
46 kg GOLD Won Un Gyong DPR KOREA
46 kg SILVER Beyza Saracoglu TURKEY
46 kg BRONZE Karina Tuvakova RUSSIA
46 kg BRONZE Zhazira Urakbayeva KAZAKHSTAN
48 kg GOLD Heaven Garcia UNITED STATES
48 kg SILVER Soniya INDIA
48 kg BRONZE Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg MONGOLIA
48 kg BRONZE Chiranchaya Phunsang THAILAND
50 kg GOLD Savita INDIA
50 kg SILVER Kateryna Rohova UKRAINE
50 kg BRONZE Ayten Cumentor TURKEY
50 kg BRONZE Kelsey Leonard UNITED STATES
52 kg GOLD Mandeep Kaur Sandhu INDIA
52 kg SILVER Niamh Earley IRELAND
52 kg BRONZE Johanna Wonyou FRANCE
52 kg BRONZE Huang Jiawen CHINA
54 kg GOLD Sakshi INDIA
54 kg SILVER Yarisel Ramirez UNITED STATES
54 kg BRONZE Preedakamon Tintabthai THAILAND
54 kg BRONZE Angarag Lkhagvadorj MONGOLIA
57 kg GOLD Zhane Crockett UNITED STATES
57 kg SILVER Liudmilla Vorontsova RUSSIA
57 kg BRONZE Namuun Monkhor MONGOLIA
57 kg BRONZE Vladislava Kukhta KAZAKHSTAN
60 kg GOLD Guadelupe Gutierrez UNITED STATES
60 kg SILVER Donjeta Sadiku KOSOVO
60 kg BRONZE Lin Ya Xuan CHINESE TAIPEI
60 kg BRONZE Ekaterina Dynnik RUSSIA
63 kg GOLD Yu Lisai CHINA
63 kg SILVER Laila Kussainova KAZAKHSTAN
63 kg BRONZE Karina Ivanova RUSSIA
63 kg BRONZE Anastasia Shpaniuk UKRAINE
66 kg GOLD Nadezhda Ryabets KAZAKHSTAN
66 kg SILVER Kylie Hall UNITED STATES
66 kg BRONZE Karina Kuzheleva RUSSIA
66 kg BRONZE Joanne Richards IRELAND
70 kg GOLD Anastasia Sigayeva RUSSIA
70 kg SILVER Niharika Gonella INDIA
70 kg BRONZE Yelena Sherunkova KAZAKHSTAN
70 kg BRONZE Yue Yuan CHINA
75 kg GOLD Anastasia Shamonova RUSSIA
75 kg SILVER Karolina Makhno UKRAINE
75 kg BRONZE Guzal Sadykova KAZAKHSTAN
75 kg BRONZE Elif Sila Gunhan TURKEY
80 kg GOLD Elena Litvinova RUSSIA
80 kg SILVER Dina Islambekova KAZAKHSTAN
80 kg BRONZE Selma Karakoyun TURKEY
80 kg BRONZE Vivien Budai HUNGARY
+80 kg GOLD Kristina Tkacheva RUSSIA
+80 kg SILVER Jessica Morka GERMANY
+80 kg BRONZE Nur Nihal Kandemir TURKEY
+80 kg BRONZE Yuliya Dyadyuk UKRAINE
The second stage of the of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 quarter-finals was held today at the Xinzhuang Stadium, and a combined 92 Junior and Youth boxers have now all secured a guaranteed bronze medal in the competition.
Bout of the day
US Women’s Youth National Champion and Ringside Women’s World Champion Ariel Arismendez defeated Ireland’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships gold medalist Ciara Ginty in an excellent bout to secure a place in the Youth Light Welterweight class (64 kg) semi-final.
Arismendez’s tactics were perfectly implemented to halt the usually successful approach of Ginty, and her aggressive style combined well with lethal hooks and uppercuts.
After her entertaining and valuable victory, Arismendez will now meet Russia’s Ekaterina Nemtseva for a place in the final.
AIBA Women’s Junior-Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Team of the day
Kosovo sent two talented junior boxers to the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, and their last remaining boxer Donjeta Sadiku had to box Tajikistan’s Idimokh Kholova for a guaranteed medal at Junior Lightweight (60 kg).
The 16-year-old Sadiku controlled the first round against her tough Central Asian opponent, before improving even further as the fight progressed.
Her victory rewards Kosovo with their first ever medal in an AIBA competition.
Surprises of the day
Kazakhstan’s newly crowned Junior National Champion Zhazira Urakbayeva outpointed the gold medal favourite of the Pinweight class (46 kg), as she eliminated Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships silver medallist Emi-Mari Todorova from the competition.
Hungary’s Angela Nagy had impressed many boxing enthusiasts with her earlier efforts in Taipei, but she could not keep the momentum going against India’s Junior National Champion Mandeep Kaur Sandhu.
Nagy tried constantly to launch her attacks, but the counter-punching from her Indian opponent was too much to handle.
Sandhu now advances to the semi-finals where her next opponent will be France’s Johanna Wonyou in the Junior Light Bantamweight class (52 kg)
Zheng Lu beats Chen Nien Chin in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Ones to watch
Italy’s AIBA Junior World Champion and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Irma Testa continued her excellent form to defeat Russia’s Anastasia Nesmiyanova, and advanced through to the semi-finals of the Youth Featherweight class (57 kg).
Her teammate Concetta Marchese also delivered a strong performance in Taipei on Day 5 as she eliminated Ukraine’s EUBC European Women’s Youth Continental Champion Valeria Manchak.
Concetta Marchese’s younger sister Giovanna was defeated by Ukraine’s Demyanov Women’s Junior Tournament winner Kateryna Rohova, who will now meet Ireland’s Kelsey Leonard in the last four.
Kazakhstan’s Nadira Maratova won the Nations Women’s Junior Cup in January where she defeated Russia’s Kristina Tkacheva in the gold medal bout, but Tkacheva claimed revenge in their rematch and advanced through at Junior Heavyweight (+80 kg).
Stat/Fact of the day
After five competition days in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, 92 guaranteed medallists remain in the competition, and the following 25 nations have secured medals in Taipei:
Russia: 15 medals
Kazakhstan: 12 medals
United States of America: 8 medals
China, India, Turkey, Ukraine: 6 medals
Chinese Taipei, Ireland: 4 medals
Italy, Mongolia, Poland: 3 medals
DPR Korea, Hungary, Thailand: 2 medals
Azerbaijan, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Korea, Kosovo, Sweden, Vietnam: 1 medal
AIBA Women’s JuniorYouth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 – Day 5
Quotes of the day
“In my opinion I had a good fight today in Taipei. I did not get sloppy or wild, and I stayed compact throughout the whole bout. My winning tactic was to try and stop my opponent as soon as I could, and I think it was successful. My goal is to win the Championships and bring the gold medal home,” said US Junior Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer Guadelupe Gutierrez after her triumph in Taipei.
“Today I did what I should in the ring, I followed the instruction of my coaches, and I was able to use my punches in an effective way, even with my opponent holding me quite often during the bout. I am now focusing on my semi-final, and of course I want to go through to the final,” said Chinese Taipei’s Lin Ya Xuan following her quarter-final win over Hungary’s Veronika Villas at the Junior Lightweight class (60 kg).
Tomorrow’s program
Tomorrow will be a rest day in Taipei, followed by the semi-finals for each weight class on Friday.
Opening round groups for the first-ever Premier12™ global baseball tournament, which unites the twelve highest-ranked countries from the WBSC Baseball World Rankings, were among a series of major announcements at a press conference Wednesday led by WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari in the South Korean capital.
In the day’s most anticipated news surrounding the new Premier12 — which will be staged in Japan and Taiwan from 8-21 November — the two groups for the event’s Opening Round were revealed:
Group A: Co-host/World No. 4 Chinese Taipei, No. 3 Cuba, No. 5 Netherlands, No. 7 Canada, No. 9 Puerto Rico and No. 11 Italy
Group B: Co-host/World No. 1 Japan, No. 2 United States, No. 6 Dominican Republic, No. 8 South Korea, No. 10 Venezuela and No. 12 Mexico
The top four nations from each group surviving the Opening Round clash will advance to the quarterfinal knockout stage before the Premier12 shifts from Taiwan to Japan’s iconic Tokyo Dome for the semi-finals and finals.
Continuing the announcements, the first two contests that will kick off action at the 2015 Premier12 were unveiled.
In Group A, it will be Chinese Taipei and Netherlands, the 2011 Baseball World Cup champions, at Taichung’s Intercontinental Stadium on 9 November.
Helping to showcase the sport’s popularity and existing world-class venues in Japan as baseball/softball vie for a spot at the 2020 Olympic Games, there was a special announcement to reveal that the 40,000-seat Sapporo Dome has been added to the line-up and would host the Group B opener, which will feature top-ranked Japan and South Korea on 8 November.
Samurai Japan National Team manager Hiroki Kokubo has underlined Japan’s intention to capture the initial Premier12 trophy and will look to assemble a Japanese “Dream Team” that will make the entire country proud.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League — South Korea’s top sports league — was present for announcements Wednesday and “welcomed the challenge” of the opening battle against rival Japan, declaring the league’s support of the South Korean National Team in the Premier12.
Phenom Shohei Ohtani (100+ mph fastball with NPB’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters) will likely be one of the Samurai selected to help Japan battle for the 2015 Premier 12 World Title.
WBSC President Fraccari commented:
“The Premier12 platform provides another key opportunity for players to represent, promote and honour their countries, and build on the wave of continued globalisation and excitement within our sport, particularly during this time when our sport is under Olympic observation for potential inclusion at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.”
Said In Sik Kim, KBO official and former manager of the South Korean National Team:
“KBO is proud and honoured to announce our involvement and support for this new elite international competition looking to 2020 and beyond. KBO leadership joins in sharing President Fraccari’s vision for the Premier12 to further establish and raise the attractiveness of National Team brands as part of a strategy to connect to new and global audiences, helping to drive awareness and growth in our sport around the world.”
The inaugural Premier12 is being co-hosted by Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) — the second highest-attended major sports league in the world in 2014 (approx. 23 million) — and the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association.
The first quarter-finals stage of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 was held today at the Xinzhuang Stadium, where many winners on Day 4 advanced through to the semi-finals stage of the competition, and earned a guaranteed bronze medal in the process.
Bout of the day
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin began these Championships as one of the biggest gold medal hopes for her country after winning major medals in the 2013 AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships, and the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
High expectations surrounded Chin to win the Youth Middleweight class (75 kg) in front of a home audience, and her first opponent in Taipei was Zheng Lu, who had replaced Chen Simin in the Chinese squad just before this competition started.
Chin began their contest well with accurate punches breaking the defence of her opponent, but as the fight progressed, Lu improved immensely, and her energy and determination enabled her to control the rest of the rounds.
The final verdict of a hugely entertaining and meaningful contest was a split decision success for Zheng Lu, who delivered the biggest surprise so far of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015.
Day 3 produces many surprises in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Team of the day
The United States of America had an excellent day in Taipei, beginning with Heaven Garcia who dominated her quarter-final contest with Nepal’s ‘AIBA Road to Taipei Program’ member Kusum Tamang.
Garcia was far too powerful for her tough opponent, and her lethal punches caused the fight to be stopped in round two.
US Women’s Junior National Champion Zhane Crockett then defeated Ireland’s Orla Garvey in a ferocious battle, before Yarisel Ramirez also advanced to the semi-finals in Taipei.
The American victories kept coming as Ariel Arismendez eliminated Thailand’s Rewadee Phonok from the Youth Light Welterweight class (64 kg), while Iesha Kenney stopped Canada’s Taylor Ross.
Surprises of the day
England’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Champion Ebonie Jones lost her first match since September 2013 in Taipei as she was defeated by Korea’s Lee Suk Yeong, while Russia’s Junior National Champion Anastasia Selina was shocked by US Junior National Champion Yarisel Ramirez.
Selina opened with effective punches in the first round, but the 16-year-old US hope did not give up their battle easily, and eventually defeated the main gold medal contender of the Junior Bantamweight class (54 kg).
Despite being a newcomer in Kazakhstan’s national team, Guzal Sadykova is proving her skills at international level, and the 15-year-old Middleweight class (75 kg) boxer earned a guaranteed medal after knocking down and beating Poland’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships silver medallist Weronika Plawecka.
AIBA Women’s Junior-Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Ones to watch
Russia’s two-time Junior National Champion Liudmila Vorontsova defeated India’s Ani Lama in the Nations Women’s Junior Cup four months ago, and excelled in their rematch as well.
Lama could not compete with the onslaught of Vorontsova, who displayed her power by knocking down her Indian opponent in the opening round.
The Russian star continued the pressure in round two, and her aggressive style saw the referee stop the bout in the second frame.
China’s Yu Lisai celebrated her 15th birthday in March, and arrived in Taipei with an undefeated record, which continues in this tournament after an impressive victory over Chinese Taipei’s two-time National Champion Shao Yi Yun.
Stat/Fact of the day
After the fourth competition day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, the following nations have earned guaranteed medals:
Kazakhstan: 9 medals
Russia: 8 medals
United States of America: 4 medals
China, India, Mongolia: 3 medals
Poland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine: 2 medals
Azerbaijan, Chinese Taipei, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Korea: 1 medal
Quote of the day
“I felt really good and confident today. My Nepali opponent tried to achieve her rhythm, but I did not let her get it. In the semi-finals I hope I can follow whatever my coach tells me and get that win as well. Of course my target is to win the gold medal in Taipei, and to take it back home,” said US Junior hope Heaven Garcia after her quick victory on Day 4.
Today’s program
The second part of the quarter-finals will be held today in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, where 21 Junior and 28 Youth bouts take place on the fifth competition day.
A marathon program was held on the third competition day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, with 54 contests taking place at the Xinzhuang Stadium.
On a day of many surprise results, the winners of each match advanced through to the quarter-finals, where they are only one step away from achieving a guaranteed bronze medal in Taipei.
Bout of the day
England’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Champion Ebonie Jones has won every bout she has competed in since September 2013, and her undefeated streak continued with her second win of the Championships.
Her opponent on Day 3 was Russia’s EUBC European Women’s Youth Continental Champion Geliusa Galiyeva, who arrived in Taipei as a gold medal contender with her own winning record lasting since November 2013.
Due to the phenomenal recent success of both boxers, this was a highly anticipated match, and Jones began with powerful attacks and great speed.
Galiyeva rallied well in round two, but Jones resumed her momentum in the third frame, and ultimately claimed one of the biggest wins of her career.
AIBA Women’s Junior-Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Team of the day
Host nation Chinese Taipei lost all of their contests on the first two competition days, but delighted the home crowd by improving their performance on Day 3.
The experienced Lo Chin Ting secured their opening victory with a wonderful result over 2013 AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medalist Roberta Bonatti, before 18-year-old Flyweight class (51 kg) Huang Hsiao Wen used her height advantage superbly against Mongolia’s Erdenebat Nyamsuren to earn a valuable win.
Huang also displayed her power in front of an appreciative local crowd as she knocked her Mongolian opponent three times, before the referee stopped the match before the final bell.
Surprises of the day
Switzerland’s Eliana Pileggi delivered the first major surprise of Day 3, as the 16-year-old Pinweight (46 kg) fighter eliminated China’s Junior National Champion Zhang Shuo.
Tajikistan’s Dushanbe Junior Tournament winner Sumaiya Kosimova is taking part in her first competition outside of her country, but despite a lack of international experience she defeated Poland’s promising Roza Asanowicz by split decision.
This result was Tajikistan’s first ever triumph in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships.
Mongolia’s Junior National Champion Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg continued the upsets as she became the first boxer in Taipei to defeat a Russian boxer when she outpointed Ekaterina Molchanova.
The Russian boxer began strongly and took the lead after round one, before a change of tactics from Munguntsetseg saw the Mongolian athlete dominate the rest of the contest.
Ireland’s Niamh Earley won the Golden Girl Women’s Junior Cup in Boras in Sweden in January, but she had to meet with Russia’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Champion Anna Krasnoperova in the opening preliminary round of the Junior Light Bantamweight class (52 kg).
Earley was not overawed by her decorated opponent, and was named the winner of a narrow bout which eliminated the gold medal favourite of the weight class.
AIBA Women’s JuniorYouth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Ones to watch
Kazakhstan’s Women’s Junior National Champion Zhazira Urakbayeva opened her competition against Chinese Taipei’s southpaw 15-year-old Chen Tzu Hsuan, and impressed with a strong finish to the match which enabled her to advance to the latter stages of the competition.
Heaven Garcia is an exciting American boxing prospect, and lived up to her reputation with a highly skilled performance in her bout with Ireland’s Shauna Blaney.
The 15-year-old US boxer utilised a tight defence mixed with many successful attacks, and her win signifies her standing as one of the favourites for gold at Junior Light Flyweight (48 kg).
Another American with medal aspirations is Junior National Champion and Junior National Olympiad Pauline Viesca, who began her tournament with an entertaining win over Kazakhstan’s Akniyet Abdigozha.
Hungary’s Queen’s Women’s Junior Cup silver medallist Angela Nagy only began boxing last year, but showcased her amazing potential with a victory over Lin Chiao Ling.
Nagy seized on an apparent lack of confidence from her opponent at the beginning of the fight, and knocked her down to the canvas early.
After a second knockdown in round two, the referee stopped the bout, and Nagy is a very dangerous boxer for anyone to face as the competition progresses.
Day 3 produces many surprises in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Fact of the day
The European and the Asian boxers continued their winning path in Taipei, where the United States of America and the Dominican Republic also achieved remarkable performances on Day 3.
Among the developing boxing nations, Algeria, Chinese Taipei, Dominican Republic, Mongolia, Switzerland, Tajikistan and Vietnam all won at least one match in the event.
Quote of the day
“I am very happy that I was able to win my opening contest against the tough Italian boxer in my home city. In the beginning, I used my regular punching style, but I felt suddenly exhausted due the intensity of this hard bout. I had to change my tactics in the final round where I moved less, and this switch was enough for me to win the contest,” said Chinese Taipei’s Lo Ching Ting after her match against Italy’s Roberta Bonatti.
Tomorrow’s program
The fourth competition day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 will decide who will earn guaranteed medals in the event, as the first stage of the quarter-finals are scheduled.
21 Junior bouts open Day 4 where one of the most anticipated bouts will be held between Russia’s Liudmila Vorontsova and India’s Ani Lama in the Featherweight class (57 kg), while 30 Youth bouts are scheduled for the evening session.
35 bouts took place from the Xinzhuang Stadium on the second day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, with many spectacular contests among them.
Bout of the day
Ukraine’s 15-year-old Karolina Makhno is one of the most powerful Junior boxers in the world, with more than 50% of her bouts finishing inside the distance.
The undefeated star arrived in Taipei as the favourite of the Junior Middleweight class (75 kg), and lived up to her reputation with a stoppage victory over US Junior National Champion Amanda Bermudez.
Makhno dominated the opening round with constant pressure against the tough US boxer, and after more supremacy in round two, the referee stopped their contest midway through the frame.
AIBA Women’s Junior-Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Team of the day
Six Russian boxers competed on the second competition day in Taipei, and all remained undefeated after the action had finished.
Junior National Champion Valeria Rodionova began a day of phenomenal success for Russia with a victory against Vietnam’s two-time National Champion Ha Thu Hong.
Anastasia Selina then controlled all of the rounds against Italy’s Manuela Bressan in their Bantamweight class (54 kg) bout.
Junior Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer Ekaterina Dynnik defeated Kazakhstan’s Salima Tleubayeva by unanimous decision, before Karina Ivanova beat Turkey’s Cagla Aluc in a narrow bout.
Russia’s Youth Bantamweight class (54 kg) number one Umeda Saidova then outperformed Chinese Taipei’s Wu Shih Yi in an outstanding contest, while Russia’s sixth boxer to triumph was four-time National Champion Elizaveta Nemtseva, who dominated her contest against Hungary’s Dorina Papp.
Surprises of the day
Kosovo’s Donjeta Sadiku took part in the EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships in Assisi, Italy last year, but she was not the favourite against Switzerland’s multiple international tournament winner Naomi Gertsch in Taipei.
Despite her underdog status, Sadiku displayed a remarkable fighting spirit in their intense contest, and won by split decision despite the warning she received in the final round.
Ireland’s Kelsey Leonard received a tough task in her first match of the competition when she was drawn with Wang Chin Hsin.
Leonard’s opponent was cheered rapturously by the watching crowd as she was a home favourite, but she succumbed to the fluid counter-attacks of her Irish rival and lost the bout.
AIBA Women’s JuniorYouth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
Ones to watch
Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships silver medallist Emi-Mari Todorova turns 16 tomorrow, and celebrated in style with a victory over Romania’s Junior National Cup winner Cristina Aciobanitei.
Todorova had gold medal expectations before the Championships, and her opening performance proved she has got a realistic chance to achieve that goal.
Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist star Irma Testa used her height advantage successfully against Chinese Taipei’s Liu Chia Chun, while teammate Giovanna Marchese knocked down Thailand’s Pakamart Suepsoda en route to a dominant points win.
Fact of the day
35 Youth and Junior bouts were held on Day 2 in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Championships Taipei 2015, where the Asian and European boxers particularly excelled.
Quotes of the day
“Kelsey Leonard was one of our boxers that we knew could perform well in the Championships as she has been showing good promise at home, and we brought her to France to give her some international experience before this competition.
“It is always hard to fight against a home boxer in the opening match, so we tried to concentrate on quick counter-attacks. I know this surprise element is now out of the bag, but I believe Kelsey will be able to raise more eyebrows in these Championships,” commented Irish head coach Liam Brereton after Kelsey Leonard’s triumph in the Junior part of the competition.
“I am very happy, the emotions are strong in our sport! In the second round my body started to respond properly and I realized that my opponent was losing a bit of her security, so in the third round I felt confident about myself. Now I am thinking about the next match and looking forward to it, I’m excited to keep improving every time,” said Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Irma Testa after her opening success.
Tomorrow’s program
The third competition day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 will consist of 54 contests, with 22 Junior and 32 are Youth bouts.
The first competition day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Championships Taipei 2015 took place from the Xinzhuang Stadium, where 16 matches from the Youth section of the event delighted the watching audience.
Bout of the day
Jajaira Gonzalez is a highly decorated American boxer who has already won many gold medals in her young career, and she began her journey in Taipei with an excellent victory over China’s four-time National Champion Gao Meiq.
Gonzalez is the main gold medal favourite of the Youth Lightweight class (60 kg), and lived up to her sterling reputation when she knocked down her Chinese opponent in the opening round.
The US boxer gained confidence from the opening three minutes, with great combinations further damaging her rival throughout the rest of the rounds.
Romania’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Championships bronze medallist Dana Maria Borzei meets Gonzalez in the last 16, and their contest is a highly anticipated one.
Team of the day
England has sent a small, but very competitive team to Taipei, and they began the Championships with several impressive performances.
EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Champion Ebonie Jones recently joined the youth age group in January, having not lost in the ring since September 2013.
Jones had her 17th birthday just before this tournament, and celebrated by winning her opening Youth Flyweight class (51 kg) match against Thailand’s Pattanaporn Lattipromma.
The Portsmouth-based boxer worked hard in her bout against the Thai fighter, eventually securing victory in the the contest by unanimous decision.
Shona Whitwell began boxing at the age of 7, and the 17-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer displayed her experience with a victory over Vietnam’s Women’s Junior National Champion Do Thi Mai.
Whitwell constantly moved forward in their battle, and she delivered the second success for England on the opening competition day.
Surprise of the day
Wang Ssu Ting became the first boxer from Chinese Taipei to compete in front of her home fans, but she was surprisingly eliminated by Ukraine’s Anastasiia Biloshytska.
The Ukrainian was a late replacement for AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Anhelina Bondarenko in the Lightweight class (60 kg), and she took control of the contest in the middle stages en route to a deserved victory.
AIBA Women’s Junior-Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015
One to watch
Romania’s Andreea Seni has won five national titles in various age groups, and her expectations for success are high in Taipei.
The 18-year-old began her competition by defeating Sweden’s Queen’s Youth Cup silver medallist Katrin Noren, which makes her a boxer to look out for in the latter stages of this event.
Stat/Fact of the day
The number of Junior boxers competing in Taipei is 133 from 29 nations, and 164 youth athletes from 36 countries are fighting for the medals.
Kazakhstan and Russia have both sent the maximum number of 23 Youth and Junior boxers, while Chinese Taipei began the day with 15 competitors.
Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, DPR Korea, Guatemala, Haiti, Kosovo, Nepal, Switzerland, Thailand and Tajikistan are all making their debut in the competition.
Tomorrow’s program
The Junior boxers will make their debut in the Championships tomorrow across 17 bouts, with 18 Youth contests also scheduled.
Ukraine’s Karolina Makhno and US Junior National Champion Amanda Bermudez meet in what should be a keenly contested Junior clash, while China’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner Chang Yuan and Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Irma Testa begin their mission for gold in the Youth section of the tournament.
One of the most prestigious boxing events of the year begins this week, as the 3rd edition of the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships starts in Taipei, Taiwan.
An excellent line-up of boxers from 45 nations have registered to take part in this tournament, and the sporting world will be able to view the future stars of women’s boxing firsthand.
Fast facts
What: AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships
Where: Taipei, Taiwan
When: 14-25 May 2015
On Wednesday 13th May, a press conference was held ahead of the Championships, where a wide range of boxing dignitaries attended, including AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, Chairman of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee Hong Dao Lin, President of the Chinese Taipei Boxing Association Wunan Lee, Deputy Director of Education Weimin Jiang, Manager of the Gym Zhihan Chen, Supervisor Waldemar Mencel, Competition Manager Ben Cheng, plus the entire boxing team of Chinese Taipei.
Many members of the local media also attended, and the event was a perfect introduction for the upcoming competition.
The Tension and the Drama
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin is a hero in her home country, and will be the host nation’s biggest hope to reach the top of the podium.
The Taipei-based athlete was a gold medallist in the 2013 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships in Albena, Bulgaria, and earned a silver medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
With such high expectation on her shoulders, can the super talented Chen Nien Chin use the pressure to her advantage, and triumph at the top of the strong Middleweight (75 kg) class?
The most anticipated battle of the Championships
Armenia’s Anush Grigoryan and China’s Chang Yuan have both achieved significant victories in worldwide events, and are in the midst of an intense rivalry having met in the ring three times already in their young careers.
The first clash was held in Albena over 18 months ago where the Chinese boxer won their inaugural meeting, while Grigoryan gained revenge in the qualification event of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Sofia.
Chang Yuan won their third contest in the front of her home crowd during the boxing tournament of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and if they meet again in the Youth Flyweight (51 kg) class in Taipei, their fourth battle will be one of the most anticipated bouts of the entire competition.
One to watch
US star Jajaira Gonzalez is one of the most prodigious talents in all of boxing, and she has never been defeated throughout her boxing career.
Her list of accolades at such a young age is remarkable, with victories in the 2013 AIBA Junior World Championships, the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games and its qualification event, plus the AMBC American Women’s Youth Continental Championships.
Gonzalez is seeking another significant medal in the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships, and the hugely talented boxer will attract much attention in the ring if she remains undefeated in Taipei.
AIBA AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, during the press conference in Taipei 2015
AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships Key Facts
Continuing the excellent ascent of women’s boxing in terms of popularity, the final number of registered athletes is 441 from 45 nations.
The number of Youth athletes is 247, and they will be fighting in the following weight classes: 48 kg, 51 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 64 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg, 81 kg and +81 kg.
Additionally, 194 Junior boxers have registered in thirteen official weight classes: 46 kg, 48 kg, 50 kg, 52 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 66 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg, +80 kg.
Among the developing boxing nations, Afghanistan, Botswana, Burundi, Guatemala, Haiti, Kosovo, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New-Guinea and Sri Lanka will all take part, while both DPR Korea and Thailand will make their debut in the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships.
This event will also mark the first appearance of Canada in the tournament, and their team will be looking for medals alongside Vietnam, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
History of the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships
The event was launched in 2011 when Antalya hosted the first edition of the Championships for Youth and Junior women’s boxers, and the best performances was achieved by China, India, Russia, Turkey and Sweden.
Japan and Kazakhstan also claimed gold medals in Antalya, with Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia and Vietnam earning medals as well.
Albena, Bulgaria hosted the second edition of the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior World Championships in September 2013, where the Powerful Russian side claimed five gold medals, with Poland and United States both earning three top positions.
Ten of the thirteen junior gold medallists from Albena will compete again in the Championships in Chinese Taipei, and the host nation will be looking to improve on their two historic golds from two years ago.
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