Source: Hueiyen News Service
New Delhi, May 18 2010:
The Asian Women's Champion-ships will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan from May 23 until May 30.Altogether seventeen powerful nations and 97 boxers will be competing at the tournament next week.
Joining host Kazakhstan with full 11-member teams entered are China and India.
China claimed five gold medals at the last AIBA Women's World Championships in Ningbo, while India acquired one gold medal two years ago, proving that both countries have world-class boxers.
Other participating nations in Almaty are: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, DPR Korea, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand.
Most countries will be looking to the three new Olympic weight classes of 51, 60 and 75kg.We can expect the best battles at the event in these weight categories, where six of the reigning champions will be defending their titles.
Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom of India is one of the biggest stars of women's boxing.
She is five-times World Champion, three-times Asian Champion and she will be competing at the lightfly weight class in Almaty next week.
Her teammates former World Champion Laishram Sarita Devi and Nagisetty Usha - a two-times silver medalist at the World Championships - are also gold medal contenders.
Reigning World Champion Tang Jieli of China has moved down from 81kg to 75kg due the London Olympic Games, while another Chinese reigning World Champion, Qing Jian, is only a reserve boxer in the squad.
AIBA Women's World Championships' bronze medalist Nazgul Boranbayeva and Yulduz Mamatkulova claimed gold medals at the Turkish Prime Ministry Tournament in April and are the biggest local Kazakh hopes.