BOXING – BAHRAIN national team boxer Maryam Khamis powered into the gold medal match of the elite women’s 51kg to 54kg category last night in the first Bahrain National Boxing Championship.
The lone women’s fight yesterday evening was part of a thrilling second day of action at the Bahrain Table Tennis Association hall at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
The event, organised by the Bahrain Boxing Federation, is being held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Khamis booked her place in the title bout after claiming a unanimous 5-0 points victory over Manar Ibrahim.
“It was a good fight, she is a good boxer,” Khamis told the GDN following her bout. “I’m very excited to go to the final. I am always prepared to box, always training, always ready.”
Khamis is the only woman fighter on the kingdom’s national boxing team. In October last year, the 29-year-old became the first Bahraini woman to win a boxing gold medal at a major international event, when she defeated Saudi Arabia’s Hala Alrashidi by a 3-2 split decision in the women’s 54kg final at the World Combat Games in Riyadh.
“It was the first time I represented Bahrain and it was great to win my first gold medal for the country,” Khamis said. “Shaikh Khalid has been a tremendous supporter and it keeps me motivated to keep going and work hard.
“This national championship means a lot to me and I am ready to fight in the final.”
Khamis will be facing a familiar opponent in her bout in Rosie Jessop, who is also an award-winning jockey.
“Rosie is my friend, and we know each other well,” said Khamis, who aspires to one day be an Olympian. “But we are fighters and once we get in the ring, we will box.”
Their bout will be one of 11 title fights tonight on the concluding evening of the national championship.
Also yesterday, Nazim Khan advanced to the elite men’s 51kg to 57kg title match after defeating Fahad Saleh on a 3-2 split decision. He will face Omar Budhahei for their division crown, after Budhahei won via walkover against Mayanja Said.
Bahrain Royal Guard boxer Prakash Limbu will take on Muhammad Lukwago in the elite men’s 57kg to 63.5kg final. Limbu was a unanimous 5-0 points winner against Mohammed Aljizani, while Lukwago claimed a win by RSC, or referee stops the contest, in the third round against Ibrahim Olamide.
Dany Ellahib was another winner by RSC last night, defeating Ali Younus to march through to the elite men’s 63.5kg to 71kg final. There, Ellahib will take on Mohammed Fakhr, who was a 4-1 victor on points against Habib Kijjambu.
In other elite men’s title fights, Hamad Al Mannai will face Tariq Raed for the 48kg to 51kg crown, Mohemmed Alshami will take on Ali Asad for the 71kg to 80kg championship belt, Okafor Chukwumaobim will battle Rasheed Rasheed for the 80kg to 92kg title, and Augustine Isaac and Amir Ndusya will go head-to-head for over-92kg supremacy.
Amongst tonight’s youth title fights, Yusuf Abdallah will face Talal Al Rayash in the 57kg to 63.5kg weight class final, Nikhil Waghnani will take on Youssef Bouzgarrou for the 71kg to 80kg title, and Adam Sameer will trade jabs with Abdulrahman Ahmed for the over-92kg belt.
The action today will begin at 6pm. All are welcome to attend. Entrance is free.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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