Petriman, Buhaniuc, Prohnevsky, and Chocholacek won the key bouts at the Dracula Open on Day3

Hungary’s Patricia Petriman, Moldova’s Alexandru Buhaniuc, Israel’s Artur Prohnevsky and Slovakia’s Sebastian Chocholacek won the key contests at the 5^th Dracula Open Tournament in Ploiesti, Romania on Day3.

The local organizers of the Dracula Open Tournament confirmed the participation of 470 registered boxers from 18 nations.

Hungary’s European U15 silver medallist Vivien Varga opened her campaign with a tight success over an Italian opponent, while her teammate in the U19 team, another European medallist, Patricia Petriman eliminated one of the best Romanians, Natalia Maria Semeniciuc on Day3.

Following Petriman’s success at the women’s 51kg, three further experienced U19 boxers, such as Bulgaria’s Roberta Hadzhiyska, Brazil’s Elissandra Santos and Belgium’s Elise Pirrone joined the semi-finals in Ploiesti.

Slovakia’s European U17 Champion Karolina Kollarova not only used her excellent technical skills against Romania’s Dorina Ionela Soacat but she stopped her opponent in the first round while Brazil’s Maira Alves also shined at the women’s 60kg.

Moldova’s Alexandru Buhaniuc was not the favourite against Uzbekistan’s strong Elshod Shokirjonov but he managed his pathway to the last four where he will now meet Palestine’s surprise, Atef Alshareef.

Romania’s European U17 bronze medallist Ionut Madalin Calugar is one of the top talents in the country but he had to keep the focus until the last gong against Bulgaria’s Nikolay Karaboykov to win their tight meeting at the 50kg weight class.

Romania’s next ace, Iulian Stefan Udroiu dominated the first round against Print Nicolas Dumitru and he finished the job in the second but four further Romanian U19 hopefuls also joined the quarter-finals at the 60kg.

The men’s 65kg is one of the toughest categories in the U19 age group and the quarter-final between Sebastian Chocholacek and Austria’s Ivan Bezuhlyi delighted the day with the tight success of the Slovakian boxer but Israel’s Artur Prohnevsky was also sensational.