Press Trust of India
Qian’an (China), Mar 31: Shiva Thapa (56kg) became the Thursday the first Indian boxer to make the cut for this year’s Olympics by entering the Asian Qualifying Tournament’s final but the celebrated MC Mary Kom (51kg) lost in the semifinals and failed to book her Rio berth.
Shiva, given the top seeding in his weight category, lived up to the billing as he sailed past 2013 World Championship bronze-medallist Kairat Yeraliyev of Kazakhstan in the semifinal. He will face second seed Chatchai Butdee of Thailand in the final Friday.
“I want to thank God for having managed to achieve this. I was very worked up about this bout, it was the most important fight for me. So I am totally exhausted and relieved at the same time,” Shiva stated after winning his bout. “I can’t thank enough my coaches and all those who supported me in this journey. I hope to come good on expectations this time by winning an Olympic medal.”
Mary Kom, however, went down to old foe Ren Cancan of China in the semifinals, which will only translate into a bronze medal for her. In the women’s category, only the gold and silver medal winners from this tournament will qualify for Rio Olympics.
The five-time World Champion and London Olympics bronze medallist, however, has another chance of qualifying for the Rio Games during the World Championships in May.
Another Indian in fray, L Devendro Singh (49kg) lost to top seed Rogen Ladon of Mongolia in the semifinals. But he will have a chance of qualifying if he wins his bout against the loser of the other semifinal in his category, Mongolia’s third-seeded Gan-Erdene Gankhuyag, Sunday.
