The AIBA European Olympic Qualification Event begun in Samsun today ©Twitter

Home favourite Batuhan Gozgec opened his campaign at the International Boxing Association (AIBA) European Olympic Qualification Event with a convincing points victory over Norway’s Hadi Srour in Samsun, Turkey. 

The AIBA Pro Boxing light welterweight star recorded a 3-0 win over his opponent to further enhance his growing reputation.

Ukrainian-born Gozgec, who won gold at last year’s Liventsev Memorial Tournament in Belarus’ capital Minsk, has been boxing for Turkey since 2013 and has quickly established himself as one of the world’s best in his weight division.

His compatriot Neriman Istik also successfully came through her first bout, defeating Poland’s Sandra Drabik 2-0 on points in the women’s flyweight division.

Armenia were another country to claim two wins on the opening day of action, including a second-round TKO victory for light welterweight Hovhannes Bachkov against Belgium’s Antoine Vanackere.

Anush Grigoryan also delivered the goods for Armenia in the women’s flyweight category as she overcame Greece’s Antonia Papoutsaki 3-0 on points.

Light welterweight Dean Walsh and super heavyweight Dean Gardiner claimed 3-0 point wins against Czech Republic’s Erik Agateljan and Norway’s Simen Nysater respectively as the Irish duo made a strong start to their quest for honours. 

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Irish light welterweight Dean Walsh won his opening bout ©Getty Images

Moldovan super heavyweight Alexei Zavatin was equally as comfortable in beating Belarus' Aliaksandr Kaleyeu, while compatriot Iulia Coroli was made to work hard for her 2-1 triumph against Azerbaijan’s Anakhanim Aghayeva in the women’s flyweight category.

Ukrainian super heavyweight Viktor Vykhryst and Bulgarian heavyweight Kristiyan Dimitrov both won by TKO as Czech Republic’s Daniel Taborsky and Armenia’s Rafayel Simonyan suffered elimination.

The one women’s TKO victory came from Swedish lightweight Agnes Alexiusson at the expense of Serbia’s Milena Matovic. 

As many as 36 qualification spots for Rio 2016 are on the line in Samsun, where a total of 217 men and 57 women, representing 38 European nations, are competing.

There are 10 weight categories for men, ranging from light flyweight up to super heavyweight, with the two finalists from each division receiving a Rio 2016 quota spot and the two losing semi-finalists taking part in a box-off for the third and final qualification place.

The women are competing in three weight categories, flyweight, lightweight and middleweight, with the two finalists in each class winning a Rio 2016 quota.

Preliminary action is due to continue tomorrow.