Kazakhstan aims for Olympic spots in the Asian Games

Following the European Games and the African Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event, the Asian Games will be the third event to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Kazakhstan has selected a powerful team to the Asian Games, the boxing power will send maximum number of 13 experienced boxers to Hangzhou including six World Champions and two Tokyo Olympic medallists.

Kazakhstan earned altogether 16 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals in boxing since the country joined the Asian Games in 1994.

Kazakhstan achieved only two silver medals in the last edition in Jakarta five years ago but their team is much stronger currently and have strong chances in Hangzhou.

Nazym Kyzaibay (50kg) and Valentina Khalzova (75kg) were Women’s World Champions, but the veteran Zhaina Shekerbekova (54kg) and the tall Karina Ibragimova (57kg) also reached the finals in the World Boxing Championships.

Joining the four Kazakh female stars, Rimma Volosenko (60kg) and a promising talent, Natalia Bogdanova (66kg) have been selected to compete in the Asian Games.

Saken Bibossynov (51kg), the “Kazakh Lomachenko”, Makhmud Sabyrkhan (57kg), Aslanbek Shymbergenov (71kg) and Nurbek Oralbay (80kg) are their World Champions in the men’s team.

Kamshybek Kunkabayev (+92kg) is a silver boy, he was finalists in four editions of the Asian Boxing Championships and twice in the World Championships. Asian Youth Champion Sagyndyk Togambay (92kg) and Yertugan Zeinullinov (63.5kg) are the further members of the male team.