Bangkok: Assam-origin boxer Shiva Thapa advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Championships being held in Bangkok, Thailand, thereby becoming the first Indian boxer to be assured of a fourth successive medal at the coveted tournament. Continuing India’s stupendous run at the championships, veteran L Sarita Devi (60kg) also entered the semifinals for the first time in nearly a decade.
Joining Thapa in the men’s semifinals were Commonwealth Games silver-medalist Satish Kumar (+91kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg) and Ashish (69kg).
The 25-year-old defeated Thailand’s Rujakran Juntrong in a one-sided lightweight (60kg) contest. He prevailed 5-0 and had a tough semifinal lined up against Kazakhstan”s Zakir Safiullin, a silver-medalist from the 2015 edition.
Thapa won gold in 2013, a bronze in 2015 and silver in the 2017 edition of the marquee continental event.
Commonwealth Games bronze-medalist Naman Tanwar (91kg) bowed out after losing his quarterfinal bout to Jordan’s Hussein Eishaish Iashaish 0-5.
Former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) too booked her maiden semifinal berth at the tournament, beating Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay in the quarters.
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