Injured Thapa hobbles out of Asian Boxing Championships final bout

NEW DELHI: Indian boxer Shiva Thapa capped off India’s campaign at the Asian Championships when he settled for a silver in Amman, Jordan on Saturday.

This was Thapa’s third silver and sixth medal overall at the continental tournament, making him the most successful male pugilist in the event’s history. His previous silver medals came in 2017 and 2021. While he clinched the gold in 2013, the 28-year-old secured bronze medals in 2015 and 2019.

Up against Abdullaev Ruslan of Uzbekistan in the men’s 63.5kg final, Thapa made a cautious but confident start.

But his quest for a second gold was halted by an unfortunate injury which he suffered on his right knee in the second round. With the Guwahati-born boxer in no condition to continue, his Uzbek opponent was declared as the winner with RSC verdict.

With the addition of the silver medal, India accumulated a total of 12 medals in the competition, including four gold, two silver and six bronze.

Out of the 12, women pugilists contributed seven as India claimed the top spot in the women’s section followed by Kazakhstan, who finished second with three gold medals.

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) won gold along with Alfiya Pathan (+81kg), Saweety Boora

SILVER

BRONZE (81kg) and Parveen Hooda (63kg) on Friday.

Minakshi (52kg) settled for silver while Ankushita Boro (66kg) and Preeti Dahiya (57kg) bagged bronze.

In the men’s section, Narender (+92kg), Sumit (75kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg) and Govind Kumar Sahani (48kg) managed to win bronze medals.