shiva thapa: Shiva Thapa, Lovlina in Indian boxing squad for Asian Championships

Veteran Shiva Thapa and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain will lead the Indian men’s and women’s challenge respectively at next month’s Asian Boxing Championships.

The selection tests for the continental showpiece to be held in Amman, Jordan from 30 October to 12 November were held at NIS Patiala from Thursday to Saturday.

Defending world champion Nikhat Zareen, three-time Asian Championship medalist Amit Panghal and Birmingham Commonwealth Games medalists Rohit Tokas and Sagar Ahlawat did not take part in the trials.

A source in the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) told PTI that while Zareen has rested the tournament, Panghal, Tokas and Ahlawat are injured.

Thapa is a five-time Asian medalist. His race includes one gold, two silver and as many bronze medals.

In the previous edition, he bagged a silver, his fifth consecutive medal in the prestigious event, becoming the most successful Indian male boxer in the history of the tournament.

The only other male boxer with five Asian Championships medals is Kazakh legend Vasily Levitt, an Olympic silver medalist and a two-time world bronze medalist.

Two-time Commonwealth bronze medalist Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg) is the other prominent name in the men’s team.

Borgohain will have a point to prove after finishing two heavy tournaments – the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

The 24-year-old, who returned with a bronze medal in the previous edition, will compete in the 75kg category as she begins preparations for the Paris Olympics, which will not have her welterweight 69kg category.

The women’s team also includes world championship bronze medalist Parveen Hooda (63kg) and youth world boxing champion Alfia Pathan.

The Indian contingent is likely to leave for Amman in mid-October for a 15-day training camp ahead of the tournament.

Men: Govind Sahni (48kg), Sparsh Kumar (51kg), Sachin (54kg), Mohammad Husamuddin (57kg), Etash Khan (60kg), Shiv Thapa (63.5kg), Amit Kumar (67kg), Sachin (71kg), Sumit (75kg), Lakshya C (80kg), Kapil P (86kg), Naveen K (92kg), Narendra (+92kg).

Women: Monika (48kg), Savita (50kg), Meenakshi (52kg), Sakshi (54kg), Preeti (57kg), Simranjit (60kg), Parveen (63kg), Ankushita Boro (66kg) , Pooja (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Sweety (81kg), Alfia (+81kg).

Originally published at Pen 18