Boxer Shiva Thapa hungry for an Olympic berth
Shiva Thapa
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Indian pugilist Shiva Thapa on Wednesday said that he is hungry for a spot in the upcoming Rio Olympics and is raring to go in the Olympic qualifiers in March in China. Thapa had narrowly missed out on qualification for the Olympics last October after losing the play-off in the World Championships.
Thapa, who had competed in the 2012 London Olympics at the age of 18, is unfazed by the problems in the administration of the sport in India and looks to fly high in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifiers in Qianâan, China, from March 25 to April 2. The 22-year old had won one of Indiaâs ten gold medals in the recently-concluded South Asian Games and said that he is hungry for an Olympic ticket.
âI know you canât compare the South Asian Games with any major boxing competition, especially like the Olympic qualifiers where boxers will be hungry for an Olympic ticket. But a title is a title after all. Itâs always better than training sessions. It gives you an opportunity to asses where do you stand ahead of a big competition,â Thapa told IBNlive.
The World Championship Bronze medallist will have to go through the national trials to compete in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifiers in March, but is fully focussed on his mission, with boxers from China and Australia also taking part.
âI am yet to take trials for the Asia-Oceania Qualifiers and the team hasnât been declared. But yes, itâs true that the Olympic Qualifiers will be a different ball game altogether. Only a few from Asia have sealed the Olympic spot and boxers from Australia will also be in China. So I am not taking the competition lightly,â said Thapa.
With Indian boxing in turmoil after AIBA suspended the Indian governing body, Thapa feels that boxers shouldnât be dragged into the problems of the association.
âThe instable situation is hitting Indian boxing badly as we arenât getting sufficient tournaments. Recently we were supposed to go to England for training but things didnât get materialised. But then we shouldnât forget that despite such problems we have won medals in big competitions and we should not get distracted by political wrangling in the Olympic year as well,â Thapa told IBNLive.
He further said, âWe shouldnât lose our focus. Olympics doesnât come every year. It gets one an instant recognition and as boxers we should only think how well we can do before and during the Rio de Janeiro Games.â
