Kazakhstan’s young boxers dominate Asian Championships with 22 gold medals
Kazakhstan’s youth boxing team delivered a commanding performance at the 2025 ASBC U22 & Youth Men’s & Women’s Asian Boxing Championships in Colombo, Sri Lanka, dominating the U19 finals on May 22 with a haul of 22 gold medals.
In the young men’s division, Kazakh boxers secured 10 gold medals. Nygman Nygmet (57 kg), Mukhit Nurkabyluly (63.5 kg) and Bexultan Kairatuly (+92 kg) defeated opponents from Kyrgyzstan. Igor Solovyov (80 kg) and Rassul Assankhanov (92 kg) defeated Afghan boxers. Aldiyar Bakhadur (54 kg) and Sultan Turdaly (67 kg) overcame rivals from Tajikistan. Other victories came from Nurkhan Kumarbekov (48 kg), who defeated an opponent from Saudi Arabia; Dossymzhan Tangatar (51 kg), who beat a Mongolian boxer; and Adilet Tortubek (60 kg), who won against a competitor from India.
Zhassulan Berdaly (75 kg) earned silver after a loss in the final to a Tajik opponent.
Kazakhstan’s U19 women’s team swept all 12 gold medals in their category. Victories included Aiym Tankibayeva (48 kg), Sila Bibolsynkyzy (50 kg), Akbota Yessimbekova (66 kg), Kuralay Yeginbaikyzy (81 kg) and Sabina Zhaksylyk (+81 kg), all of whom defeated Indian boxers. Zhanel Imantayeva (54 kg), Aknur Tursyngali (57 kg) and Mariya Sidorenko (70 kg) triumphed over Vietnamese athletes. Tolganay Kassymkhan (60 kg) and Zarina Tolybay (75 kg) won against competitors from Kyrgyzstan. Rakhmina Abdumezhitova (52 kg) overcame a Thai boxer, while Alina Kudaigenova (63 kg) defeated a contender from Sri Lanka.
In total, Kazakhstan’s U19 squad claimed 22 out of 25 possible gold medals — 13 in the men’s division and 12 in the women’s — along with one silver. The remaining three gold medals went to other countries. Tajikistan placed second in the unofficial team rankings (excluding bronze medals) with two gold and two silver medals, followed by Kyrgyzstan with one gold and five silvers.
Final bouts in the U22 division are set for today, with Kazakh boxers appearing in 24 of the 25 gold medal matches.
The 2025 Asian Youth Boxing Championships, running from May 10 to 24, feature 50 gold medal events: 26 for men and 24 for women.
The championships are held under the auspices of the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is led by Russian official Umar Kremlev. The IBA faced backlash after allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their national flags, prompting several national federations to withdraw from the organization. In 2024, the International Olympic Committee officially revoked its recognition of the IBA.
