Indians To Watch Out For: Shiva Thapa
India has produced numerous talented pugilists through time and Shiva Thapa is now at the epicentre of the Indian amateur boxing scene. Shiva made his journey from an unknown entity to one of the most popular and successful pugilist in India in no time. He is an experienced Olympian and will be looking to make the most of the gap left by Vijender Singh after his move to Pro boxing.
The youngster has already grown as one of the strongest contenders in Asia. He is also one of India’s major contenders for a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Qualification
Currently World No. 6 in Bantamweight Shiva has fallen off a few places. But anyone who saw him fight during the Asia/Oceania Zone Qualifiers will be confident that ranking don’t mean a thing. Shiva first assured himself of the Olympic berth by winning the semi-finals, however he failed to win the Gold in Qian’an.
Earning the spotlight
Shiva Thapa has been in the spotlight since quite an early age, his moves inside the ring have won several acclaims. He is a performer at the elite competitions and his achievements are a proof. Thapa made his way to the Junior World Boxing Championships winning a bronze at the Children of Asian International Games in Moscow, 2008. He went on to win a bronze at the junior’s as well; he was the only Indian to have returned with a medal.
His medals continued throughout his youth career with decent runs at the World Youth Amateur Boxing Championship as well as at the Youth Olympics.
In 2012, an 18 year-old Shiva defeated Syria’s Wessam Salamana to clinch the gold medal at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, earning his ticket to the Olympics in London. He lost in the opening round at the London Olympics but making his way there was an achievement enough for the teenager.
Route to Rio
Shiva Thapa won the Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in 2013, becoming the youngest Indian to achieve this feat. He participated in the World Boxing Championships but missed out on a medal losing in the quarters. His quest for medals continued, failing to find his footing at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in 2014. He lost in the first round and quarterfinals respectively.
However, Shiva made good on his chance and became only the third Indian to clinch a World Championship medal. That alone was not sufficient for him to confirm a berth in India’s contingent for Rio. He kept his tempo high and progressed to the Olympics in the Asia/Oceania Zone Qualifiers winning the silver medal.
He has grown as a boxer as the results show, but the situation with the sport’s body is at stalemate. The pugilists have played under the International Boxing Association flag due to the lack of a governing body in India. But that has not affected the players or their training patterns.
Medal Quest
Shiva Thapa can be said to have been a little unlucky in the previous Olympics. He has not been his best at the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games either. But the reason he is India’s top contender in boxing is credited to his largely improved form throughout 2015 and the early half of 2016 leading up to Rio.
However, Thapa is not India’s only hope as Vikas Krishan Yadav and Manoj Kumar will be accompanying him.