TEHRAN - Iran’s Amir Esmaeili Vandaei won a gold medal at the 2024 ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships.

He knocked out his semi-final opponent in Astana but he had a more difficult challenge in the final of the super heavyweight (+92kg) against Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Polvonov.

 The taller Iranian landed the stronger shots in the first round and he had the motivation, furthermore the power to keep the control of the final.

 The Sri Lankan referee counted the Uzbek boxer after Esmaeili’s heavy punch in the second round and he became his nation’s first Asian Youth Champion since 2017.

A total of 390 boxers from more than 24 countries, including strong boxing nations such as China, India, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan competed in the competition in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.