‘A little win over COVID,’ Shiva Thapa on landmark Asian boxing championship medal

Already in the semi-finals of the 2021 Asian Boxing Championships, Indian boxer Shiva Thapa has not only assured himself a medal at the Dubai event but also a special place in the continental tournament’s record books.

Irrespective of whether the medal is a bronze, silver or gold, the 27-year-old Indian will be the first male boxer in history to win five successive medals at the continental event. He won a gold in 2013, a bronze in 2015, a silver in 2017 and another bronze in 2019.

“I never thought I would be the first to do something like this. It is a good record to have against your name,” Shiva Thapa, who faces defending men’s 64kg champion Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan in the semis on Friday, told PTI.

Asked to pick a favourite, Shiva Thapa noted that each medal had its own significance but did attach special importance to the latest one owing to the circumstances.

“The COVID-19 pandemic. This whole situation that the world is in. To be able to compete and win medals in such a time. Psychologically, it felt as if I have beaten the virus for once,” Thapa said.

“This Asian medal was like an assertion that we won't give up. That's what it meant to me this time. It is quite overwhelming,” he added.

Only Vassiliy Levit – the Rio 2016 heavyweight silver medallist – matches Shiva Thapa’s medals tally at the Asian event in men’s boxing. However, unlike the Indian, the Kazakhstan legend didn’t win his crowns in consecutive editions.

Vassiliy Levit, who is already in the semis this year, won gold medals in 2009, 2015 and 2017 while finishing with a bronze in the 2019 edition in Bangkok.

Though Shiva Thapa now stands as the most successful men’s boxer at the Asian championships, he is still behind women’s legends MC Mary Kom (seven medals) and Laishram Sarita Devi (eight medals). Six of the Sarita Devi’s triumphs came in successive editions.

“To be anywhere close to these women's achievements is in itself humbling. I am honoured, they are remarkable athletes,” Thapa said.

With Manish Kaushik clinching the men’s 63kg category quota for Tokyo, Shiva Thapa, who represented India at London 2012 as well as Rio 2016, is all set to miss out on the global showpiece this time.

Shiva Thapa, in fact, only made it to the Indian contingent to Dubai because Manish Kaushik is recovering from a COVID-19 infection.

But winning the record-setting Asian medal, Shiva Thapa says, has reignited his drive to push on in the future after a tough couple of years.

“Perhaps it's a sign that I have to keep going, try harder, that's what an athlete is supposed to do. We can't give up,” Shiva Thapa said. “Obviously, nothing compares to the Olympics, it is the biggest but you have to give your best in the opportunities you get, I am trying to do that.”