Guwahati: Star Indian fighter Shiva Thapa added a historic silver medal to India’s impressive season, bringing the country’s total medal count to 12 at the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championship.
Thapa is now the most successful male boxer in the history of the championships after winning his third silver and sixth medal overall at the illustrious competition.
He won two silver medals prior to this one in 2017 and 2021. According to a news release from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), he won the title in the 2013 competition as well and earned bronze medals in 2015 and 2019.
In the men’s 63.5 kg final matchup against Abdullaev Ruslan of Uzbekistan, Thapa made a cautious beginning and appeared to build confidence as the match went on. However, he injured his right knee in the second round of the fight, ending his chances of winning a second gold medal at the Asian Championships.
The Guwahati-born fighter was unable to continue, so the referees awarded the victory to his Uzbek opponent with an RSC score.
India finished the competition with a total of 12 medals, including four gold, two silver, and six bronze, after adding a silver medal on the last day.
Out of the 12 medals, women pugilists contributed to seven as India claimed the No.1 position in the women’s section followed by Kazakhstan, who finished second with three gold medals. The 2022 edition of the championships saw a fierce competition in the presence of 257 top boxers from 27 countries in Amman, Jordan.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) won the gold medal along with Alfiya Pathan (+81kg), Saweety Boora (81kg) and Parveen Hooda (63kg). Minakshi (52kg) claimed silver while Ankushita Boro (66kg) and Preeti Dahiya (57kg) bagged bronze medals each.
Narender (+92kg), Sumit (75kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg) and Govind Kumar Sahani (48kg) won bronze medals in the men’s category.