Asian Kickboxing Confederation Championships 2016/2017, 15 countries met in Turkmenistan
What A great success again!
After the successful organization of K1 Rules Asian Championships in 12 Categories during September 2016, Asian Kickboxing Confederation (WAKO ASIA) chaired and leaded by its President Mr. Nasser Nassiri, organized the Asian Kickboxing Confederation Championships from the 24th – 30th of April in the “Pearl of Central Asia” Ashgabat known also as white city, capital of Turkmenistan. 15 Countries from the 5 different zones of the Asian Continent (East, South East, South, Central and West Asia) met each other to find their best fighters in kickboxing sport and its disciplines such as Full Contact, Low Kick, K1 Rules (in selected categories which were excluded in Korea in September 2016), Light Contact, Kick Light, Point Fighting and musical forms.
The first Asian Championships with Olympic standard part of “Inspiring Ashgabat” the Test Event series
As Body in charge of Kickboxing in Asia, the recognition granted by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) since 2007 Asian Kickboxing Confederation is in charge of kickboxing competition during prestigious Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games promoted by OCA and are organized with Olympic Standard under direct management of Sian Kickboxing Confederation.
However, this is the first time that Asian Kickboxing Confederation organized the Asian Kickboxing Confederation (WAKO ASIA) Championships 2016/2017 with complete Olympic Standard at the occasion of “Inspiring Ashgabat” the Test Event series of competition used for upcoming 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games at the boasting of the most advanced facilities in the region, the Ashgabat Olympic Complex with the collaboration of the Executive Committee of preparation of 5th Asian Indoor & martial Arts Games.
Organizing Committee of Asian Kickboxing Confederation took high responsibility to assure that the Asian Championships meets all OCA and Olympic requirements, including sports hall, doping controls, transportation, press presence, live broadcasting, etc.
The hard work of the organizing committee of Asian Kickboxing Confederation and its Chairman paid off in the excellent conditions throughout the competition.
In cooperation with the Technical Delegate of competition Area Mr. Euncheon Jeong (KOR) and Technical Delegate of competition schedule management Mr. Dipl.-Ing. Jens Walbersdorf (GER) and the IT services corporation, ATOS SE (responsible for timing and scoring at the last Olympic Games in Rio, 2016), Asian Kickboxing Confederation could benefice of the international and Olympic level of scoring systems for both ring and tatami sports as well as musical forms.
Mr. Borislav Pelevic, WAKO President was invited as VIP guest of the event who reaches the competition for the two days final and had the opportunity to visit the Olympic Complex and appreciated the excellent work of Asian Kickboxing Confederation.
Many political personalities visited the competition, including the different Ambassadors in duty in Ashgabat such as Islamic Republic of Iran Ambassador His Excellency Seyed Mohammad Ahmadi enjoying the quality of the excellent Asian Championships.
After the year 1987, tatami sport is back to the podium
A unique highlight for tatami sport contestants was the special platform that was set up for this event at the request the Mr. Nassiri, President of WAKO ASIA and Chairman of Organizing Committee. This was the first time in WAKO continental Championships history and the second after Munich (1987) when the WAKO World championships tatami was organized on a podium. Positive feedback from competitors, coaches, media and visitors gives hope that this will not be the last time.
Colorful Opening Ceremony
Auditorium of the completely new built Martial Arts Arena in Ashgabat – capacity of 5000 people - was almost fully booked during the Opening Ceremony on 26th April, Wednesday.
The Chairman of the Sport Committee Turkmenistan greeted WAKO Asia, hundreds of dancers and musicians entered the sports hall and presented a great show combining Turkmenistan’s traditions with modern art. Mr. Nasser Nassiri, President of Asian Kickboxing Confederation (WAKO Asia) opened the event with his speech: “We, Asian Kickboxing Confederation and its board of Directors express our deepest gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for granting us the organization of Asian Championships in such a wonderful venue. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the great success of this event. This is a historic occasion, and we’re proud to be here in this great country.”
Kickboxing Fights and Asian Power on High Level
323 registered athletes from 15 countries were competed in 76 events (categories) in 7 Kickboxing Styles with total of 273 fights in both ring and tatami during 5 days competition.
The small number of protests (only 3) during the five days competition confirms that excellent work which were being done by Organizing Committee members Mr. Qasim Al Wasity (IRQ), Mr. Kong, SunTaek, (KOR), Omarmukhtar Tamboli, (IND) and in particular its Chairman Mr. Nasser Nassiri supervising the Asian referees and judges and their collaboration with the invited African and European referees and judges under the direction of Mr. Euncheon Jeong (KOR).
The highlight was the ring sports combat during these days, Full-contact, Low-kick and K1 clashes were on high level. The fighters, Hallyyev Shohrat (Turkmenistan), Ali Aday (Jordan), Khoshkalam Soleiman Seyed Amir (Iran) and Begmatov Chyngyz (Kyrgyz Republic) and many others dazzled the auditorium with world class performances in their kickboxing category. Asian Kickboxing Confederation once again showed the Asian Power strength and the high quality of the ring sport fighters.
Following this great event, the Asian Power leaded by Mr. Nasser Nassiri President of Asian Kickboxing Confederation moving forward to the Asian Indoor & Martial Art Games, which will be held at Ashgabat in September 2017.
Medal Standing
After five days of competition, Turkmenistan emerged as the most successful country in the Asian Kickboxing Confederation (WAKO Asia) Championships 2016/17 at the Martial Arts Arena in the Ashgabat Olympic Complex on last Sunday.
The home country won a total of 27 gold, 25 silver and 23 bronze medals to lead the medal table, while WAKO Iran Kickboxing Organization, with 22 gold, nine silver and 12 bronze followed.
The host added a mammoth 25 medals — 13 gold and 12 silver — to its collection on the final day. Iran was the second most successful team on last Sunday, bringing in nine gold and three silver medals.
Four kickboxers from Iran and a Turkmenistan athlete completed double gold medal hauls on the final day. For Iran, Majid Akbarzadehmoshtadhi (men’s 84kg light contact and point fighting), Fotima Kholova (women’s 50kg kick light and light contact), Zeinab Jabbari (women’s 65kg point fighting and light contact) and Shahnaz Mirheidari (women’s 60kg point fighting and light contact) achieved the double. The host’s Batyr Charyyev (men’s 94kg light contact and kick light categories) also claimed victories in all bouts he fought in.
Kholova, who won both her final fights by identical 3-0 margins, said she was happy with her overall performance in the competition.
“I achieved all the aims I had in mind while coming to Turkmenistan. Now I’ll go back home and take a little break. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to return to this country in September and win medals again. I’ll certainly give it my best shot.”
Turkmenistan and Iran were the top two sides in the final medals standings, followed by Tajikistan (12, seven, three), Kyrgyzstan (eight, 11, 12), Iraq (three, two, seven), Syria (two, one, six), India (one, 10, 23), Macau (one, three, four), Jordan (one gold), Chinese Taipei (four silver, five bronze), Korea (two silver, three bronze), Afghanistan (one silver, three bronze), Malaysia (one silver, three bronze), Nepal (one silver, one bronze), and the Philippines (two bronze).
The Asian Kickboxing Championships were a part of Asian Power and the Inspiring Ashgabat Test Event Series and conducted at the same time with Senior Asian Weightlifting Championships, and the Central Asian Short Course Swimming Championships between 23 and 30 April with the collaboration of the Executive Committee of preparation of 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games.
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