Shiva Thapa, 22, is one of the three Indian boxers representing India at the Rio Olympics. Thapa, who became the youngest boxer to qualify for Olympics in 2012, would like to put the London horror behind when he takes the ring in the Bantamweight category. In a sport which has been hit by plenty of off-ring mess in the country, Thapa was the first boxer to secure a berth, and his journey from a young boxer in 2012 to a confident one in 2016 makes him a good medal contender for the Summer Games.
After a gold in Asian Olympic Qualifiers in 2012, Thapa was pinned as the hope of Indian boxing, after Vijender Singh. His London outing, however, lasted only one round as he lost the opening contest 9-14 to Mexico’s Oscar Valdez Fierro. Thapa, however, didn’t let the London disappointment derail his progress as he went about doing business, and winning medals. Year 2013 was a great year for the youngster as he won a Asian Confederation gold before entering the quarters of the World Championship.
After the 2013, it was a new low for Thapa in 2014 as he failed to win a medal in either Commonwealth Games or Asian Games. Confident and raring to go, Thapa gives India hope of a medal in the sport which has been hit by plenty of controversies since 2012 – a year which saw as many as eight boxers battle it out for a medal.
Thapa will battle out in the Round of 32 contest to start his campaign and it will be followed by Round of 16, quarters, semis and the final. These stages provided he wins the opening round.
Qualification: Thapa qualified after an appearance in the Asian Olympic Qualifying event finals in April, 2016
Career highlights: Thapa had a roller coaster start to his journey as the high before 2012 Olympics was followed by some lows. Year 2013 did offer some consolations with gold at Asian Confederation but it was 2014 which turned out to be a forgettable year as the young pugilist failed to win a medal in both CWG and Asian Games.
Record: Thapa is currently world no.3 in his weight category
