New Delhi: India’s star boxer Shiva Thapa took on Pakistan’s Suleman Baloch in the Men’s 63.5 kg bout. Thapa defeated his opponent 5-0 by clinching all 3 rounds. He showed a dominant performance in his first match in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Thapa won the first round 10-9 as the matches in the CWG are played in 10 points-must system. In the second round, he extended his lead to 20-17 as he showed a good combination of attack and defence. He advanced to the round of 16 with a unanimous decision of 5-0, which proved his dominance in the match.
Shiva Thapa showed why he is one of the best in the business. Thapa, who became the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics in 2012, has a chance to win a medal here as India eyes multiple medals in the sport. Last year he also won a silver medal in the Asian Championships.
He was the only Indian boxer to play a bout on Day 1 as Rohit Tokas (67 kg), Sumit Kondu (75 kg) and Ashish Kumar (80 kg) got a bye in the Round of 32. Shiva Thapa will now face the bronze medallist of the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships, Reese Lynch in the Round of 16. They will play their bout on July 31.
Indian boxer Mohammad Hussamuddin will compete against South Africa’s Amzolele Dyeyi in the Men’s 57 kg category on day 2. India won nine medals in the last Commonwealth Games, including three golds. This time they will look to better that tally as 12 world-class Indian boxers compete in the games.
The Birmingham games are streaming on Sony Sports Network on television and on OTT, it is available on Sony Liv.
