Nguyen Thi Tam (R) exchanges punches with Stoyka Zhelyazkova of Bulgaria during the Women's Fly (48-51kg) at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (Photo: AFP/VNA) Vietnam'sfirst World Boxing Organisation champion Nguyen Thu Nhi was expected to takepart in the tournament but has recently withdrawn.
Accordingto Vietnam's Sport Administration's head of Boxing Department Vu DucThinh, it was her club, Cocky Buffalo Boxing, that asked for her to bewithdrawn.
"Afterher victory at the WBO event last month, Nhi suffered some injuries. It willnot be good for her to compete at the world championship as she will not befully recovered," said Thinh, adding that boxer Vy will take theplace.
"TheInternational Boxing Association or AIBA has recently announced their newweight categories. Following the update, there is no more U51kg category that Tamhas been in. She has to move to the U52kg class but it is not that different.Meanwhile, Vy will box in the U57kg category, her strong category."
Tamis one of the best female boxers of Vietnam. The former Asian champion was thefirst Vietnamese woman to earn a place at the Olympics. Although startingthe fight well in Tokyo event last July, Tam lost to Bulgarian StoykaZhelyazkova in the first fight.
Inthe previous world championship in 2019, Tam advanced to the semi-finals afterbeating Liliya Aetbaeva of Russia and was to bring Vietnam's first silvermedal home. But the host athlete sent a complaint to organisers who lateroverthrew the announced result, kicking Tam out of the event.
Meanwhile,it is Vy's debut at the world competition. Vy was back in action early thisyear after taking a two-year break after giving birth.
The25-year-old is widely expected to win her first international gold after 10years since her world youth championship title in the 57kg class in 2011.
InTurkey, athletes will fight for titles in 12 weight pools, ranging from U48kgto over-81kg from December 4-12 in Istanbul.
Thetop three of each class will enjoy bonuses of 100,000 USD, 50,000 USD and 25,000USD, respectively./.
VNA
