Le Thi Bang began the Asian Women’s Amateur Boxing Championships with a perfect win against Aya Shinmoto on Thursday in HCM City.
Le Thi Bang of Viet Nam (right) is announced winner of a match in the 54kg category at the Asian Women’s Amateur Boxing Championships in HCM City on Thursday. — Photo sggp.org.vn
The Vietnamese boxer won 5-0 against her Japanese rival, who won a bronze medal at this tournament in 2010, in the 54kg class.
In a later match of the 60kg pool, Luu Thi Duyen also pocketed a 5-0 victory against Raykhona Kodirova of Uzbekistan.
Duyen, the Asian Games bronze medalist, faced no difficulty in dominating all three sets.
“We had a training course ahead of the tournament and we are at our best now. I want to achieve the highest result at the event as Viet Nam are the hosts,” Duyen said.
Her teammate Trinh Thi Diem Kieu, however, did not succeed, losing to London Olympian Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte of India in the 48kg category.
Hamangte also triumphed at the Asian tournament in 2014.
The competition is being held at the Nguyen Du Gymnasium from November 2 to 8.
More than 100 athletes from 22 countries are participating in the seven-day event for 10 sets of medals.
It is the first time that Viet Nam is hosting the continental championships.
Vietnamese athletes have not yet won the best title at this tournament. Their best result was two silver medals in 2008. The most recent medal was a bronze for Ha Thi Linh in the 64kg class in 2015. — VNS