Shiva Thapa youngest Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics

Shiva Thapa youngest Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics

Teenage boxer Shiva Thapa qualified for the 2012 Olympics by entering the final of the 56 kg category at the Asian Olympic qualifying event here Wednesday, becoming the youngest Indian to do so.

Shiva defeated Japan's Satoshi Simizu, 2009 Asian Championship bronze medallist, 31:17 in the semi-finals. He had defeated Athens Olympics silver medallist and 2010 Asian Games winner Worapoj Petchkoon of Thailand in the quarter-finals,

At 18, he has now become the youngest Indian boxer to secure an Olympic berth, surpassing the 19-year-old L. Devendro Singh, who made the cut for the July-August Games last year. Debendra Singh competed as a 19-year-old in the 1996 edition at Atlanta.

Shimizu had a notable height difference and took complete advantage of it in the first round. The Indian who, had to defend more and work on counter attack, was able to get in a few good hits, just before the close of the opening three minutes of play. Shiva was still down a one point deficit (6:7) at the end.

In the second round though, Shiva shifted gears and settled into a good rhythm; he negated the Japanese boxer's height leverage with some great infighting - the right hand counter punch over the top, worked like a charm for him.

Shiva, 2010 Youth Olympics silver medallist, also threw in a series of left right combinations that yielded fine results. By now Shiva had taken complete control of the bout with a ten point lead (22:12). In the final round he eased off the throttle, but was still able to penetrate Shimizu's defence at will. The Assam lad went on to win the bout with a total score of 31:17.