Shiva determines to earn Rio berth

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 18: An impressive performance in the World Boxing Championship helped Shiva Thapa to earn a bronze medal although he rrowly missed Rio Olympic berth in the same competition. However India's fast raising boxer is determined to be the part of the Indian squad which will go to Rio and the boxer is now eyeing a stint in the World Series of Boxing to qualify for the 2016 Olympic.

Shiva arrived in the city today, after a gap of eight months, to take a few days break before he starts his fil preparation for the World Series Boxing. Talking to the media person in a function, where the boxer was felicitated by the Assam Amateur Boxing Association, Shiva admitted that he is little bit upset as he couldn't confirm his ticket for Rio Olympic during World Boxing championship. However the boxer looks very optimistic about his participation in next year Olympic.

 “I have made good preparation for the World Boxing championship and it was because of that I was able to won a medal in the tourment. Unfortutely I lost the semi fil bout and later play-off tie also otherwise my dream to participate in next Olympic could be fulfilled in Doha, the venue of the World Boxing Championship,” said the Assam boy.

The 21-year-old bantamweight (56 kg) boxer, who joined Vijender Singh (2009) and Vikas Krishan (2011) as a rare World Championships medalist, also felt that his confident level is now higher particularly after winning a medal in the world championship. He added: I am now more confident about myself and there is a self-belief that I can stand up to fight against any competitor of the world.

The felicitation function, which was held at the AOA conference hall, was attended by Jadav Chandra Deka, MLA, Kamalpur, Anjan Sarma, Director, Sports and Youth Welfare, Kalikanta Boro and Hemanta Kalita, president and secretary of Assam Amateur Boxing Association respectively. In a brief speech Anjan Sarma today announced that Sports department would try to give cash incentive to Shiva for his medal winning performance in the World Boxing Championship.