Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sport, was part of the capacity crowd that greeted the host country's only medal chance in the boxing tournament at the International Convention Centre Tuesday evening, when 11 bronze medals were at stake.
Young Mohd Hamid lost his light flyweight bout against Uzbekistan's Zohidjon Hoorboyev, but he was not disappointed. "I was confident throughout, did not lose hope, but my opponent is a very experienced athlete. This Youth Olympic Games has been a very inspiring experience for me," he said.
"He has had as many as ten bouts so far, started boxing with me four years ago, so he's still a youngster by boxing standards. Our club's president is very happy with his performance, Hamid has a good future in front of him, it is just a matter of time for him to blossom", coach T. Balasundram at U2 Can club added.
Hesham Abdelaal is an exceptionally skilled boxer, as he had demonstrated against the reigning Youth World Champion a couple of days ago. Kandel Dowden from Grenada was not really a match for him and the Egyptian boxer won by RSC in the second round, leading 15-3 at the time. When he came out to the mixed zone, the young winner was mobbed by Egyptian reporters.
"I am still upset for not making the finals. I had boxed the two strongest athletes in my weight category, but still I am happy now to take home the bronze medal," Abdelaal said.
Welshman Zack Davies and Pole Dawid Michelus had an even match until the end of the first round, but as time went by, the younger boxer from the Western Polish town of Pila began to show why he is a Youth World Championships bronze medallist. Now he has another bronze, this time from the Youth Olympic Games.
"This is more precious than the other one," Michelus said. "I am very happy, and I am looking forward to meeting my family in Pila. My mother will be waiting for me with her special Polish dish, my favourite, which is called schabowy, that is cabbage and potatoes with fried pork."
Fradimil Macayo from the provincial capital city of Barquisimeto in Venezuela is a tough guy who was determined to go home with a medal in his pocket. And he will, as he beat Bulgarian Denislav Suslekov with a strong third round performance.
"When I heard the cheering of the Venezuelan section of the crowd in the final seconds, my heart started beating even harder. I cannot describe how excited I am," Macayo said.
His coach, Omar Catari - bronze medallist from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games in the featherweight, too - praised his pupil: "His father was a boxer, too, he has the skills in his veins. He wanted to get this medal very badly, and he did get it. We are expecting a hero's welcome in Caracas."
Vikas Krishan from India is a Youth World Champion and he wanted to be an Olympic Champion here in Singapore, but lost his semi-final 4 to 3 against Evaldas Petrauskas of Lithuania. That was a controversial decision which will be hard to digest for the young Indian, who disposed of his Mexican opponent in the bronze medal match easily, by disqualification in the third round. "It still hurts. I can't believe I lost against Petrauskas. I still keep receiving phone calls and SMS from India asking how on earth I had lost that bout. For me the bronze medal is no consolation, but it was given by God and I have to accept what God gives. I hope this experience will give me more strength for the future," Krishan said.
In the light welterweight Fabian Maidana won by walkover, as his Ukrainian opponent could not make the weight at the morning weigh-in.
In the welterweight bronze medal match Nursahat Pazziyev of Turkmenistan did not concede a point to his neighbour, Youth World Championships bronze medallist Oslomzhon Dalibaev from Kyrgyzstan and won by seven clear points.
Zoltan Harcsa of Budapest, Hungary is a very skilled boxer, bordering on the virtuoso, and he put on display his arsenal in his bout with a strong Nigerian athlete. Harcsa - whose surname means catfish in Hungarian - jumped out to an early lead, and rocked Akanji in the final seconds of the first round. In the second the African was given a warning for clinching, and Harcsa went on to get a comfortable 8 to 1 win for the middleweight bronze medal.
"I want to thank my coach Imre Szántó and the president of the Hungarian Boxing Association Sándor Csötönyi for the support they have given to me during my career," Harcsa said. "Of course, a gold medal would have been better, but let's be realistic, the bronze is a huge accomplishment."
Sardorbek Begaliev of Uzbekistan had built a substantial lead for two and a half rounds, but then his Colombian rival came to life and put up a strong fight, cutting the lead to three points. However, it was too little, too late, and the Asian prevailed for a hard fought 5-2 victory and a well deserved bronze medal in the light heavyweight.
The heavyweight bronze medal match did not last too long. Umir Can Patir of Turkey - being far superior - made a short work of his opponent from Tajikistan, and the referee stopped the contest shortly before the end of the first round.
Daniil Svaresciuc is a real super heavyweight, while his Hungarian counterpart has been balancing between the two highest categories. Although the ten kilo advantage showed, it was the lighter Magyar who took the lead in the first. But then the stronger punches of the Moldavian opened up Zsigmond's defences, and the contest was stopped with 91 seconds to go.
Bronze medal matches
Youth Olympic Games, Singapore
Tuesday, 24 August, 2010
Light Fly 48 kg Mohd Hamid (SIN)-Zohidjon Hoorboyev (UZB) 0-7
Fly 51 kg Kandel Dowden (GRN)-Hesham Abdelaal (EGY) RSC R2
Bantam 54 kg Zack Davies (GBR)-Dawid Michelus (POL) 7-12
Feather 57 kg Denislav Suslekov (BUL)-Fradimil Macayo (VEN) 3-8
Light 60 kg Daniel Echeverría (MEX)-Vikas Krishnan (IND) DSQ R3
Light Welter 64 kg Oleg Nekliudov (UKR)- Fabian Maidana (ARG) WO
Welter 69 kg Nursahat Pazziyev (TKM)-Oslomzhon Dalibaev (KGZ) 7-0
Middle 75 kg Muideen Akanji (NGR)- Zoltán Harcsa (HUN 1-8
Light Heavy 81 kg Ytalo Perea (COL)-Sardorbek Begaliev (UZB) 2-5
Heavy 91 kg Siyovush Zukhurov (TJK)-Umit Can Patir (TUR) RSC R1
Super Heavy +91 kg József Zsigmond (HUN)-Daniil Svaresciuc (MDA) RSC R3
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