The U19 girls from Kazakhstan and the elite boxers from Poland dominated the finals at the 21st edition of the Silesian Women’s Open Tournament in Gliwice.
The international female competition was held for the women’s elite, U19 youth and U17 junior boxers in Gliwice. The Silesian Open Tournament was a strong preparation event for the European Elite Boxing Championships, the European U17 Boxing Championships, the World U19 Boxing Championships and the Asian Games.
The bout of the day
Poland’s Julia Szeremeta claimed an unexpected silver medal at the Paris Olympics but she repeated that top performance also in the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool last September. The 23-year-old Polish did not compete too many times in the international events this year but she returned in the Silesian Open to take the title of the elite 57kg. Szeremeta had a real battle against Ireland’s European U22 Champion Niamh Fay but she won their tight meeting by 3:2 split decision.
The surprise of the day
Norway’s best female boxer, Sunniva Hofstad had to miss the Silesian Open as she has been fully preparing for the European Elite Boxing Championships. The next top female Norwegian boxer, Sofia Stigen Sorensen earned a gold medal in the event following her success over Czech Republic’s U19 World Champion Stella Blazkova at the 80kg. Stigen Sorensen impressed in the entire event and the 21-year-old proved that she is also a medal favourite in Sofia.
The Round-Up
Kazakhstan impressed in the U19 finals of the Silesian Open, among their boxers Assylay Murat (48kg), Madira Zhumakan (51kg), Zhanel Imantayeva (54kg), Kamila Ospanova (70kg), Altyngul Aitmukhan (75kg) and Zarina Tolybay (+80kg) all won their title contests in Gliwice. Kamila Ospanova stopped Poland’s Lena Bukowska in the final and she was one of the best U19 boxers in the entire competition. Imantayeva’s tight success over Ukraine’s promising Kira Makohonenko was one of the best fights in the U19 age group.
Ukraine’s Yevanhelina Petruk bagged several titles during her career but the U19 talent had to do her very best to beat Anna Koloturska, a compatriot in the final of the 57kg weight category. Another Ukrainian, Sofia Novikova was able to beat Kazakhstan’s Aidana Ubaidullakyzy in the final of the 80kg while Antonina Biniecka (60kg) and Zuzanna Archicinska (65kg) achieved two titles for the host country.
Poland’s Natalia Niewiadomska and France’s Mathilda Fragnieres both were born in 2007 and the duo joined the elite competitions only this January after amazing U19 results. Their title contest opened the elite finals in Gliwice and the Polish teenager was able to control the exchanges and she earned the gold medal in an anticipated bout.
Czech Republic’s Lenka Bernardova returned to the international events only this May but the 25-year-old boxer is highly motivated once again after becoming a mother in 2025. The former European medallist was in top shape in the entire Silesian Open, caused sensational victories and she defeated Finland’s Teresa Maekinen in the final of the 54kg, which was a top highlight for her before the European Elite Championships.
Poland’s Olympian Aneta Rygielska has 14 years of international experience and she competed in all levels of boxing successfully. After her participation in Paris, she moved back to the 60kg and she not only advanced to the finals of the Silesian Open but she won the entire competition. The 31-year-old boxer had a tough final bout against an 11-year-old-younger Czech talent, Barbora Maxova in Gliwice.
Poland’s Kinga Krowka was a big surprise last year when she made her debut in the elite age group and she has also big targets in the upcoming European Elite Championships. The 20-year-old boxer had a close success in the semi-finals and she had to do her very bets to beat England’s Ella Thompstone in the final of the 65kg.
Poland’s next gold medal was achieved by Barbara Marcinkowska who controlled all of the three rounds against France’s Andrea Badin at the 70kg. Agata Kaczmarska, their reigning World Champion at the +80kg, moved down to the 75kg, and she had the full control against Amelia Kostrzewa in the final.