Shiva Thapa Reaches Final In Asian Boxing Championships

Shiva Thapa, an Indian boxer who has been a 6-times medalist, reached the final of the Asian Boxing Championships.

Shiva Thapa, a six-time medallist, won the men’s 63.5 kg semifinal match against Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan 4-1 and advanced directly to the championship round on Thursday in Amman. 

Thapa will now compete against Abdullaev Ruslan of Uzbekistan on Saturday.

He was the only Indian male boxer to reach the finals; the other four Indian boxers finished the competition with bronze medals.

Mohammad Hussamuddin (57 kg), a two-time bronze winner at the CWG, had to withdraw from the competition after suffering an injury above his right eye during his last eight match earlier this week.

Along with the winners of the Thailand Open, Sumit (75 kg), Govind Kumar Sahani (48 kg), and Narender (92+ kg), this 28-year-old superstar settled for a bronze medal.

While Sumit (75 kg) squared up against the current Asian champion Jafarov Saidjamshid of Uzbekistan in a challenging battle, Govind (48 kg) competed against Sanzhar Tashkenbay of Kazakhstan.

In the semifinal match, Mullojonov Lazizbek of Uzbekistan, the third seed, defeated Narender.

Shiva Thapa is the lone Indian male boxer to make it to the final of the Asian Boxing Championships in Amman on Thursday after defeating Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan 4-1 in a fiercely contested men’s 63.5kg semifinal match.

Thapa, who previously ensured a record-breaking sixth continental medal, will face Ruslan Abdullaev of Uzbekistan in the championship match on Saturday.

To win the opening round, the skilled Thapa blended his lusty left punches with combinations. The 2019 champion Usmonov increased his attack to take second. Usmonov suffered a count, but Thapa defeated him once more in the competition.

In the semifinals, four of five Indian men who competed won bronze.

Mohammad Hussamuddin (57 kg), a two-time bronze medalist at the Commonwealth Games, opted not to enter the ring after being deemed “medically unfit” due to a cut he sustained in the semifinals.

Worlds medalists Parveen Hooda (63 kg) and Saweety Boora (81 kg) won their semifinal matches on Wednesday night to advance to the finals.

Five women advanced to title fights, including Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg), Alfiya Pathan (+81 kg), and Minakshi (52 kg).