Jordan signs off qualifiers with gold

AMMAN — Kazakhstan and India have finished with the most boxers to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games following the Asian/Oceanian qualifiers in Jordan, but the host nation had plenty to cheer about by finishing with a gold medal, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Following a superb nine days of action, the finals night delivered a finale to remember, and it was Kazakhstan and India who shared top honours with nine boxers from each nation booking their Tokyo 2020 spots.

But it was China who excelled on the last evening with four boxers securing gold medals.

The host nation ended with a brilliant five boxers securing their places, with the icing on the cake coming from Zeyad Ishaish finishing as the gold medal winner for the Welterweight 69kg division.

He didn’t even need to fight on finals night with his Indian opponent Vikas Kirshan not making the weight and being unable to fight. Ishaish can now expect a lofty ranking place in his pursuit for Olympic gold in four months’ time. He was presented his medal by HRH Prince Feisal, president of the Jordan Olympic Committee.

Meanwhile, teammate Mohammad Al Wadi’s tremendous run ended with a defeat against the World Champion and World No. 2 Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov.

Wadi was in brilliant form all the way through the competition, but he met formidable opposition in the Uzbek fighter who recorded a unanimous decision.

Jordan will be delighted with their efforts from hosting an event which was switched to Amman from the Chinese city of Wuhan just 45 days before the event started.

The other final bouts:

Women’s Flyweight (51kg)

A deducted point in the third round proved costly for fourth seed Tsukimi Namiki, of Japan, who lost on a split decision to China’s 2018 World Champion Yuan Chang.

Women’s Featherweight (57kg)

World No. 1 and reigning Asian Champion, Yu-Ting Lin, of Chinese Taipei, secured Amman gold by beating 19-year-old Sena Irie, of Japan.

Women’s Lightweight (60kg) 

There were no seeds in the final which went the way of impressive Korean fighter, Yeonji-oh, who overcame the challenge of India’s Simranjit Baath.

Women’s Welterweight (69kg)

Third seed Hong Gu, of China, picked up maximum ranking points by beating top seed, Nien-Chin Chen, of Chinese Taipei, with a split decision to take championship gold.

Women’s Middleweight (75kg)

First seed beat second when Qian Li picked up China’s third gold medal of the evening by overcoming Australia’s Caitlin Parker.

Men’s Flyweight (52kg)

A ferocious first round knock-out landed the gold medal, China’s fourth, for Jianguan Hu, after he floored Thailand’s Thitisan Panmot.

Men’s Lightweight (63kg)

The fight of the night was a Central Asian classic which went the way of the bloodied Elnur Abduraimov, of Uzbekistan, who overcame losing the first round to beat Kazakh fourth seed, Zakir Safiullin, on a split decision.

Men’s Middleweight (75kg)

Another fantastic contest saw tournament top seed Eumir Marciel, of The Philippines, follow up his World silver medal with gold in Amman by beating Kazakhstan’s Abilkhan Amankul on a split decision.

Men’s Light Heavyweight (81kg)

Reigning World Champion, Bekzad Nurdauletov, 21, lived up to his billing as top seed by beating Australian newcomer Paulo Aokuso, who had earlier beaten the second seed on his way to the final.

No. of Qualifiers to 2020 Olympic Games

Kazakhstan9

India9

Uzbekistan7

China6

Jordan5

Australia5

China Taipei4

Thailand4

Japan3

South Korea2

Philippines2

Iran2

Tajikistan2

New Zealand1

Mongolia1

Vietnam1