Shiva Thapa scripts history, earns 6 medals in Asian Championships.

Arjuna Awardee boxer Shiva Thapa who hails from Assam bags 6 medals in the 63.5kg category quarter-finals of Asian Boxing Championships 2022 and scripts history.

As per media reports, Thapa becomes the first ever male boxer in the history of Asian Championships to bag six medals after he out-punched Minsu Choi of South Korea to the progress to the semifinals in Amman, Jordan.

The 23 year old won 4-1 over Choi in the light welterweight quarterfinal to secure his sixth consecutive medal.

According to a report by NDTV Sports, "With the win, Thapa (63.5 kg) is assured of at least a bronze medal in the ongoing edition, bettering his own position as the most successful Indian boxer in the tournament."

His collection consists of a gold (2013), two silvers (2017, 2021), and the same number of bronze medals (2015 and 2019).

Thapa overtook the only other male grappler with five Asian championship medals, Kazakh's  boxer Vassiliy Levit, an Olympic silver medalist and two-time world bronze medalist.

The boxer who had earlier won Silver in 2017 and 2021 and Bronze in 2015 and 2019, will compete against Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan, the 2019 gold medallist in the semi-final on Friday.

Earlier in the day, another Indian boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin defeated South Korean boxer Haengseok Lee and advanced to the semifinal of the 57 kg (featherweight) division in the ongoing Asian Boxing Championships being held in Amman, Jordan.

Hussamuddin defeated his opponent 5-0 in a dominant fashion making assuring India its 6th medal in the championship.

He will be against the 2021 World Championships silver medallist Serik Temirzha in his semifinals bout on November 10.

In the other quarterfinal, Thailand Open gold medallist Ananta Chopade (54kg) bowed out of the competition after losing to Seidekmatov Sanzhai of Kyrgyzstan by a score of 0–4.

Earlier on Saturday, Indian Olympic medalist, another one from Assam, boxer Lovlina Borgohain defeated Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova on Saturday’s quarterfinal bout and advanced to the semifinal of the 75 kg category .

The split decision resulted in a 3-2 victory for Borgohain. And with this win, she assured India of the fifth medal after Minakshi (52 kg), Preeti (57 kg), Parveen (63 kg) and Ankushita Boro (66 kg) won their respective quarterfinal matches.

Unfortunately, Indian female boxer Pooja (70kg) suffered a 0-5 defeat against Kazakhstan’s Dariga Shakimova in the quarter-finals bout.

The championships will be held in Jordan from November 1 to November 12.

 

India squad are as follows (as per Olympics.com)-

Men: Govind Sahani (48kg), Sparsh Kumar (51kg), Ananta Chopade (54kg), Md. Hussamuddin (57kg), Etash Khan (60kg), Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), Amit Kumar (67kg), Sachin (71kg), Sumit (75kg), Lakshya (80kg), Kapil (86kg), Naveen (92kg), Narender (+92kg).

 

Women: Monika (48kg), Savita (50kg), Minakshi (52kg), Sakshi (54kg), Preeti (57kg), Simranjit (60kg), Parveen (63kg), Ankushita Boro (66kg), Pooja (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Saweety Boora (81kg) and Alfiya Pathan (+81kg). (ANI)