Gold medalist Zhang Xiaoping (2nd L) of China, silver medalist Kenny Egan (L) of Ireland and bronze medalists Tony Jeffries (R) of Great Britain and Yerkebulan Shynaliyev of Kazakhstan (Photo Credit: Xinhua/Chen Jie)
Boxing Final Day Review:
China wins first gold medals, while Cuba misses out
(BEIJING, August 24) – The balance of power in amateur boxing seems to have shifted slightly at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Traditional boxing powerhouse Cuba failed to win a gold medal, the first time that it hasn't won a gold medal in boxing since the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Cuba boycotted the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games.
Prior to Beijing 2008, several champion Cuban boxers pulled out of Cuba's Olympic squad. Despite having an inexperienced squad, Cuba still managed to win eight medals, including four silver medals.
"They (the Cuban boxing team) came here with no experience, and they've won eight medals. No gold, but nobody was expecting more than one or two medals at all for us. Now we have not only eight medals, but also a team with Olympic experience ready to start preparing for the next Olympics," said Cuba's boxing coach Pedro Roque.
While Cuba saw its boxing fortunes decline, China not only won its first-ever boxing gold medal, but it won two gold medals on the same day.
Before the Games had begun, light-flyweight Zou Shiming was expected to win his country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport. Despite the intense pressure, Zou boxed well throughout the whole tournament, culminating in today's win against Mongolia's Serdamba Purevdorj in the final.
Zhang Xiaoping's gold medal in the light-heavyweight class came as a surprise. Zhang defeated Ireland's Kenny Egan in the final 11-7.
Despite Purevdorj's loss against Zou, Mongolia will be very happy at its performance. Apart from the silver medal in the light-flyweight class, the small Asian country also won a gold medal in the bantamweight class when Badar-Uugan Enkhbat defeated Yankiel Leon Alarcon of Cuba.
The other traditional boxing powerhouse that was conspicuously absent from the top of the podium was the United States, who only managed to win one medal – the bronze medal that Deontay Wilder won in the heavyweight class
Traditional boxing powerhouse Cuba failed to win a gold medal, the first time that it hasn't won a gold medal in boxing since the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Cuba boycotted the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games.
Prior to Beijing 2008, several champion Cuban boxers pulled out of Cuba's Olympic squad. Despite having an inexperienced squad, Cuba still managed to win eight medals, including four silver medals.
"They (the Cuban boxing team) came here with no experience, and they've won eight medals. No gold, but nobody was expecting more than one or two medals at all for us. Now we have not only eight medals, but also a team with Olympic experience ready to start preparing for the next Olympics," said Cuba's boxing coach Pedro Roque.
While Cuba saw its boxing fortunes decline, China not only won its first-ever boxing gold medal, but it won two gold medals on the same day.
Before the Games had begun, light-flyweight Zou Shiming was expected to win his country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport. Despite the intense pressure, Zou boxed well throughout the whole tournament, culminating in today's win against Mongolia's Serdamba Purevdorj in the final.
Zhang Xiaoping's gold medal in the light-heavyweight class came as a surprise. Zhang defeated Ireland's Kenny Egan in the final 11-7.
Despite Purevdorj's loss against Zou, Mongolia will be very happy at its performance. Apart from the silver medal in the light-flyweight class, the small Asian country also won a gold medal in the bantamweight class when Badar-Uugan Enkhbat defeated Yankiel Leon Alarcon of Cuba.
The other traditional boxing powerhouse that was conspicuously absent from the top of the podium was the United States, who only managed to win one medal – the bronze medal that Deontay Wilder won in the heavyweight class
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