Taipei, May 13, 2015: 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 2014Youth 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 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. —- AIBA
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