Usaith falls short in gold medal clash against Kazakhstan Silver lining for Sri Lanka

Yasmin Usaith fighting in close quarters with Aman Konsbekov 

By Allaam Ousman 

Kazakhstan’s Aman Konsbekov broke Sri Lankan hearts when he beat local hero Yazmin Mohammed Usaith with a power packed performance to clinch the Middle (75kg) weight title at ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday. 

Sri Lanka’s hopes of a gold medal rested on the 20-year-old from Kandy but failed to the disappointment of a raucous crowd in the Men’s Under-22 title clash.

Despite enjoying height and reach advantage, Usaith opted to engage in a slug fest with his shorter rival whose explosive right crosses froze the Sri Lankan forcing him on the back foot.

Usaith who frequently engaged in wrestling clinches and pivoted around dangerously exposing, was off target with his blows landing approximately a dozen throughout the contest.

Konsbekov stunned Usaith with precision power blows with some judges scoring 10-8 in his favour displaying mastery in technique and ringcraft over the young Sri Lankan national champion who showed bravery to put up a terrific fight which drained him physically. 

In a magnanimous gesture, the partisan packed Stadium who had cheered themselves hoarse for the Sri Lankan roared to congratulate Kazakhstan’s Konsbekov after he won a unanimous decision. 

Nonetheless, Usaith provided the silver lining on a dismal day for Lanka as three women pugilists Hansini Nayakarathna (63kg), Manjari Narasinghe (75kg) and Nethmi Tharushika (81kg) were outclassed by tough Kazakhstan rivals with the bouts not going beyond the first round.

However, Sri Lanka ended their campaign with a total of 23 medals - 18 bronze and five silver.

Results 

Under-22 finals: Women: 48kg - Mahi Siwach (IBA-India) beat Akbota Botal (Kazakhstan), 50kg - Thi Ngoc Tran Nguyen (Vietnam) beat Gulnar Turapbay (Kazakhstan), 52kg - Thi Kim Ngan Song (Vietnam) beat Tomiris Myrzakul (Kazakhstan), 54kg - Elina Bazarova (Kazakhstan) beat Thi Mai Chuc Ngo (Vietnam), 57kg - Viktoriya Badiukova (Kazakhstan) beat Nancy Nancy (IBA-India), 60kg - Anar Tursynbek (Kazakhstan) beat Hangoma Isoeva (Tajikistan), 63kg - Aruzhan Zhangabayeva (Kazakhstan) beat Hansini Nayakarathna (Sri Lanka), 66kg - Uldana Taubay (Kazakhstan) beat Himanshi Himanshi (IBA-India), 70kg - Bakyt Seidish (Kazakhstan) beat Muldir Yerjan (Mongolia), 75kg - Shugyla Nalibay (Kazakhstan) beat Narasinghe (Sri Lanka), 81kg - Zhibek Zharaskyzy (Kazakhstan) beat Nethmi Tharushika Nakandalage (Sri Lanka), 81+kg - Assel Toktassyn (Kazakhstan) beat Payal Jakar (IBA-India), Men: 48kg - Tileuberdi Suleimeni (Kazakhstan) beat Behruz (Uzbekistan), 51kg - Dias Berikbay (Kazakhstan) beat Meroj Sufijonov (Tajikistan), 54kg - Anushervon Fazylov (Tajikistan) beat Umar Raza Khan (IBA-Pakistan), 57kg - Zhasurbek Anorbayev (Kazakhstan) beat Choojan-At Phanuwat (Thailand), 60kg - Nurislam Kaldybayev (Kazakhstan) beat Damir Muibalikhonov (Tajikistan), 63.5kg - Livaza Omar (Kyrgyzstan) beat Seraly Zholmaganbet (Kazakhstan), 67kg - Bakhtiyar Anarbayev (Kazakhstan) beat Almaz Orozbekov (Kyrgyzstan), 71kg - Agazhan Kadyr (Kazakhstan) beat Eldar Turudubaev (Kyrgyzstan), 75kg - Aman Konsbekov (Kazakhstan) beat Yazmin Mohammed Usaith (Sri Lanka), 80kg - Bakbergen Aliaskarov (Kazakhstan) beat Uulu Sagyn Satybaldy (Kyrgyzstan), 86kg - Ibragim Betaev (Kazakhstan) beat Azim Choibekov (Kyrgyzstan), 92kg - Azatbek Zholdaskhan (Kazakhstan) beat Mujtaba Sharifi (Afghanistan), 92+kg - Myrzakir Koshaliev (Kyrgyzstan) beat Yersultan Sapar (Kazakhstan).