Rising Indian boxer Shiva Thapa (56kg) and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar (64kg) endured draining contests but came out triumphant to enter the quarterfinals on a bitter-sweet day for India in the World Boxing Championships, here on Monday.
Both the boxers came back after being down a round to outwit their respective rivals. While Asian champion and fourth seed Shiva got the better off Argentina’s Alberto Melian 2-1, sixth seed Manoj beat Canada’s Yves Ulysse by the same margin.
However, former cadet world champion Thokchom Nanao Singh (49kg) and Asian Games silver-medallist Manpreet Singh bowed out of the event after losing their prequarterfinal bouts to more fancied opponents.
Nanao lost 0-3 to eighth seed Anthony Chacon Rivera of Puerto Rico, while Manpreet went down to top seed Teymur Mammadov by the same margin.
Shiva will face Azerbaijan’s Javid Chalabiyev in the quarterfinals, while Manoj will be up against Cuba Yasnier Lopez, who stunned third-seeded Russian Armen Zakaryan. A win in the quarters, scheduled for Wednesday, will assure both of at least a bronze medal in the mega-event. ‘It was a very tough bout and took a lot out of me ,’ Shiva said.
Both the boxers came back after being down a round to outwit their respective rivals. While Asian champion and fourth seed Shiva got the better off Argentina’s Alberto Melian 2-1, sixth seed Manoj beat Canada’s Yves Ulysse by the same margin.
However, former cadet world champion Thokchom Nanao Singh (49kg) and Asian Games silver-medallist Manpreet Singh bowed out of the event after losing their prequarterfinal bouts to more fancied opponents.
Nanao lost 0-3 to eighth seed Anthony Chacon Rivera of Puerto Rico, while Manpreet went down to top seed Teymur Mammadov by the same margin.
Shiva will face Azerbaijan’s Javid Chalabiyev in the quarterfinals, while Manoj will be up against Cuba Yasnier Lopez, who stunned third-seeded Russian Armen Zakaryan. A win in the quarters, scheduled for Wednesday, will assure both of at least a bronze medal in the mega-event. ‘It was a very tough bout and took a lot out of me ,’ Shiva said.