Medalists in seven weight categories were determined at the boxing tournament in the program of the XIX Summer Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Before the final day of the competition, an award ceremony was held in five weight categories. Bairamdurdy Nurmukhammedov, a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, rose to the podium in the weight category up to 71 kg.

A 21-year-old native of the city of Magtymguly, a ward of coach of the School of Higher Sportsmanship of the State Sports Committee of Turkmenistan Yazmukhammet Pazzyev, reached the semifinals, where he lost by the decision of the judges to Kang Chia Wei (Taiwan), quarterfinalist in the weight up to 75 kg of the previous Asian Games-2018 in Indonesia, and was awarded a bronze medal. In honor of this success of our compatriot, the State Flag of Turkmenistan was raised under the arches of the Sports Palace of Hangzhou Gymnasium where the boxers' fights took place.

Medal awarding ceremonies are always held after the finals. However, the final match did not take place in the boxing tournament in the weight category up to 71 kg at the Asian Games. Representative of Taiwan Kang Chia Wei did not enter the ring due to the eyebrow dissection received in the semifinal fight with Turkmen boxer Bairamdurdy Nurmukhammedov, as a result the gold medal of the XIX Summer Asian Games went to Sewon Okazawa from Japan.

It should be noted that the issue of biased judging at the Asian Games boxing tournament, because of which Turkmen athlete Bairamdurdy Nurmukhammedov and Aslanbek Shymbergenov from Kazakhstan, the current world and Asian champion, did not reach the final and lost their deserved tickets to the Olympic Games-2024 in Paris, is still being discussed at the Games in Hangzhou. In protest against the unfair decision of the judges, the Kazakh boxer even took off the bronze medal after being presented at the award ceremony.

The topic of judging at the boxing tournament was also raised at the press conference held after the award ceremony, which was ignored by Aslanbek Shymbergenov and silver medalist Kang Chia Wei from Taiwan.

Champion of the XIX Summer Asian Games Sevon Okazava evaded questions on the topic of judging, noting the steadfast character of the Turkmen athlete.

"He is a strong boxer," S. Okazava said, pointing his finger at Bairamdurdy Nurmukhammedov.

Bairamdurdy also did not say anything about the refereeing, only thanked the organizers of the Asian Games for their hospitality and excellent organization of the Games.

It should be noted that because of his modest behavior Bairamdurdy Nurmukhammedov is highly respected among the participants of the boxing tournament at the Asian Games.

"He is so modest, but you can't tell by the way he boxes in the ring that he is a quiet guy," one of the coaches of Tajik team said enthusiastically about B. Nurmukhammedov.

In 1994, Bekmurad Durdyev (weight category up to 63.5 kg) from Turkmenabat won the bronze medal in the boxing tournament at the first Asian Games for Turkmen athletes in Hiroshima (Japan). In 2014, Aziz Bebitov (up to 64 kg) and Serdar Khudaiberdyev (up to 69 kg) were also awarded bronze medals at the XVII Summer Asian Games in Incheon (Republic of Korea). And now, 9 years later, Turkmen boxers have one more bronze medal at such large continental complex competitions.

Bairamdurdy Nurmukhammedov's success is rightfully shared by his first coach Kurbangeldy Velmuradov, his current mentor Yazmukhammet Pazzyev, with whom he has been training for several years and preparing for all responsible international competitions, as well as Tenilbek Jumakulov, head coach of the Turkmenistan national team.

The bronze medal won by Bairamdurdy Nurmukhammedov became Turkmenistan's fifth medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Earlier, three medals in kurash wrestling were brought to the team by Tejen Tejenov, who was awarded silver in the super heavyweight category over 90 kg, as well as Ishanmyrat Atayev (up to 90 kg) and Ainur Amanova (up to 52 kg), who were awarded bronze awards. Another bronze medal was won by Maysa Pardayeva in the competition of judoka in the weight category up to 57 kg.