Chinese boxers target finals in Asian Games
China will try to add more gold medals in its treasure chest when its boxers see action in the 2010 Asian Games boxing tournament semi-finals Wednesday 24 November.
A total of nine Chinese boxers reached the last four of their respective events to assure themselves of bronze medals.
Leading the host nation's gold-medal quest is Olympic champion Zou Shiming. The 29-year-old, the first Chinese boxer to win a gold medal in the Olympics and world championships, will take on Thailand's
Amnat Ruenroeng in the 49kg division. The winner of the bout will face the victor of the other semi-final between Filipino Victorio Saludar and Kazakhstan's Birzhan Zhakypov.
In the men's 52kg, Chang Yong will take on Commonwealth Games champion Suranjoy Singh Mayengbam of India for a place in the final. The other semi-final will pit Saludar's elder brother Rey against Katsuaki
Susa of Japan.
Zhang Jiawei is China's representative in the 56kg division. He will battle North Korean Ri Myong-son. Should Zhang hurdle his semi-final assignment, he will face the winner of the bout between Athens
Olympics silver medallist Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand and Syria's Wessam Salamana.
Hu Qing will try to defend his title in the 60kg division. The Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist will trade punches with South Korean Han Soon-chul. Awaiting the winner in the finals is the winner between
India's Vikas Krishan and Uzbekistan's Hurshid Tojibaev.
In the 69kg class, Maimaitituersun Qiong will face Uzbekistan's Uktamjon Rahmonov for a place in the final. Mongolia's Otgonjargal Jargal and Kazakhstan's Serik Sapiyev will take on each other in the other
semi-final bout.
In the 81kg division, Meng Fanlong will face Uzbek Elshod Rasulov. The winner will face whoever wins in the bout between India's Dinesh Kumar and Nepal's Deepak Maharjan.
Another attraction for local fans is the super heavyweight fight between Zhang Zhilei and Indian Paramjeet Samota. The Chinese giant is seeking redemption after settling for a silver medal at the 2008
Beijing Olympics, losing to Italian Roberto Cammarelle via knockout. Also seeking a final berth in the heaviest division in boxing are Iran's Roohollah Hosseini and Kazakhstan's Ivan Dychko.
China's female boxers are also gunning for final berths in their respective divisions.
Dong Cheng will take on North Korea's Yun Kum-ju in the day's curtain raiser in the women's 60kg division. Immediately following their fight is the other semi-final bout between Thailand's Tassamalee Thongjan
and Kazakhstan's Saida Khassenova.
Li Jinzi will try to progress to the 75kg division final when she takes on Goyat Kavita of India. South Korea’s Seong Su-yeon will try to do the same when she battles Mongolian Undram Erdenesoyol in the
other match-up.
In the 51kg division, Ren Cancan will face Hmangte Chungneijang of India in a battle of world champions. The other semi-final will pit Filipina Annie Albania against Japan's Aya Shinmoto.
Only three divisions in the men's event do not have any Chinese semi-finalist.
In the men's 75kg category, Danabek Suzhanov of Kazakhstan will face Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan while Mohammad Sattarpour of Iran will take on Vijender Singh of India.
The 64kg class will feature India's Santhosh Kumar Virothu against Thailand's Masuk Wuttichai and Daniyar Yeleussinov versus Sanjarbek Rahmanov in another Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan slugfest.
In the 91kg division, Manpreet Singh of India will square off against Jakhon Qurbonov of Tajikistan while Ali Mazaheri of Iran will battle Mohammad Ghossoun of Syria.
Tags: