Commonwealth Games: Indian boxer Shiva Thapa beats Pakistan's Suleman Baloch
Indian boxer Shiva Thapa defeated Pakistan's Suleman Baloch in his opening bout (men's 63.5kg category) at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) at the National Exhibition Center in Solihull. The former won by unanimous decision to advance to Round of 16. Thapa, the 2015 World bronze medallist, was all over his Pakistani counterpart throughout the bout. Here are further details.
Thapa beat Baloch 5-0
India's Shiva Thapa took less than 10 minutes to beat Baloch in the Round of 32. The Indian claimed a 5-0 win. Thapa will face 2021 world bronze medallist Reese Lynch (Scotland) in the next round.
A solid start for Thapa
A look at Thapa's achievements
In 2014, Thapa unlocked the greatest achievement of his career by winning the bronze medal at the World Championship in Miami. In 2015, Thapa became only the third Indian to win a medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships (bronze medal). He qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic (men's 56 kg event). Thapa won the silver medal at the 2017 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships.
Youngest-ever Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics
Thapa, born in Assam, is a son of a karate instructor. In 2012, Thapa (then 18) became the youngest-ever Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics. He qualified for the 56 kg category at the 2012 Asian Olympic Qualifiers. Thapa defeated Syria's Wessam Salamana 18-11 to clinch the gold medal and bag the covered Olympic berth. The former didn't feature at the Tokyo Games.
Thapa won the silver medal at 2010 Youth Olympics
In 2010, Thapa won the silver medal at the Youth Olympics after losing to a Cuban boxer in the finals (54 kg). Notably, the Indian, who was touted to bring home gold, had suffered a fist injury during his semi-final bout.
