Palawan welcomes ASBC junior boxing delegates

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1004228
• Wednesday, August 2, 2017 1:00 pm

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Aug. 2 -- A welcome dinner was hosted Tuesday evening by the provincial government of Palawan to welcome guests who are here to be part of the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) Junior Boxing Championships.

The ASBC tourney, which will begin Wednesday afternoon till August 8 at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum, will feature boxing delegations from Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Chinese-Taipei, India, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Japan, Iraq, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bhutan, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Tajikistan, China and the Philippines.

The “Drawing Ceremony” for the Asian boxing event was held at Hotel Centro. It was led by ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships Mohamed Kamel Shbib, where Nepal and Saudi Arabia have been accepted as fresh joiners in the history of the event.

ASBC Vice President Yousuf Ali Al Kazim said 138 youth boxers from 19 Asian countries are currently in the city for the boxing tourney. Their ages are between the ages of 15-16.

Kazim, who was welcomed by Vice Governor Dennis Socrates, said the warm reception that was shown by the provincial and city governments was unexpected, and gave credibility to what they have been told that Palaweños are thoughtful and friendly to all their guests.

He said he will definitely tell the story of Palawan’s generosity to his friends so they too, can experience it, by visiting the province soon.

The Philippines’ sixth-time national champion in several age groups, Criz Russu Laurente, will be the main gold medal contender in the light flyweight (48kg) against China’s Cai Yujun in the first preliminary round.

The opening stage of the event, meanwhile, will feature Laurente’s teammate, John Vincent Pangga, against Uzbekistan’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup winner Amirbek Ibodullaev.

The welcome dinner also had for guests ASBC Executive Director Bagdaulet Turekhanov, Supervisor Dr. Mohamed Kamel Shbib, Anas Alotaibah and Tibor Kincses.

Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez and Maria Karina Picson of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) also attended.