Three-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (60 kg) has brought laurels to Assam and the country by winning silver at the 38th GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Finland’s Helsinki on Sunday.
India’s Kavinder Singh Bisht (56kg) struck gold while four others including Thapa claimed silver medals to end a fine Indian campaign at the tournament on Sunday.
Besides Shiva Thapa, the other silver medallists are Govind Sahani (49 kg), Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin (56 kg) and Dinesh Dagar (69 kg), reports Firstpost.
In a rare all-Indian final, a gritty Kavinder Singh Bisht was up against Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Hussamuddin in the 56 kg summit clash.
According to the report, both the boxers are from the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) and the familiarity with each others’ techniques was apparent in the intense bout.
But it proved to be Bisht’s day and the Navyman overcame a cut sustained above his right eye in the final round to emerge triumphant against his Army rival in the event.
The boxer from Assam, Thapa (60kg), being a former bronze-winner at the world championships, lost 1-4 to local favourite Arslan Khataev.
In an intense battle, Shiva Thapa claimed the final round honours but the judges ruled the first two rounds in favour of Khataev in Helsinki.
After winning silver, Thapa, while uploading two images of the moment on his Twitter handle on Sunday stated: “Won Silver in 38th Gee Bee Cup 2019 at Helsinki Finland.”
Won Silver ??? in 38th Gee Bee Cup 2019 at Helsinki Finland. #Jaihind #Nodaysoff #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/9iBWN1OV1L
— Shiva Thapa (@shivathapa) March 10, 2019
Meanwhile, Sahani started off strongly against Thitisan Panmod from Thailand in his summit showdown, clinching the opening round unanimously.
However, Panmod found favour with a majority of the judges in the next two rounds and the messy bout ended 3-2 in the flamboyant Thai boxer’s name, the report said.
A silver-medallist from last year’s India Open, Dagar was up against Commonwealth Games gold-medallist England Pat McCormack in the finals.
The Indian entered the bout with a heavily swollen left eye due to an injury sustained in the semifinals, said the match report.