Shiva Thapa, Sachin Siwach qualify for semi-finals in GeeBee Boxing Tournament

03/09/2019

Shiva Thapa and Sachin Siwach have won their respective bouts to make it to the semi-finals of the ongoing GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Helsinki, Finland. Apart from the duo, Mohammed Hussamuddin, Kavinder Singh Bisht, Dinesh Dagar, Naveen Kumar, and Sumit Sangwan will also play the semi-finals.

Thapa got the better of Poland’s Dominik Palak in the 60kg quarter-final bout as he secured his berth in the top four of the competition. Thapa, who had got a bye in the first round, will now face Russian boxer Mikhail Varlamov in the semi-final bout after a 5-0 verdict in his favour against the Polish boxer.

Siwach confirmed his place in the semi-finals by beating Russia's Tamir Galanov in the 52kg quarter-final tie. The 20-year-old Indian, who won the quarter-final because of a 4-1 verdict in his favour, will have to face Azat Usenaliev of Kyrgyzstan in the semi-final bout.

Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg), Kavinder Singh Bisht (56kg), Dinesh Dagar (69kg), Naveen Kumar (+91kg) and Sumit Sangwan (91kg) are the other Indians who have qualified for the semi-finals in different weight categories. Hussamuddin defeated Russia's Ovik Ogannisian 5-0 while Bisht got the better of Almanbet Alibekov of Kyrgyzstan.

Dagar continued his great run in the competition as he defeated local favourite Aydin Behruz 3-2 in the quarter-final bout after knocking out former Olympic bronze-medallist Evaldas Petrauskas in the opening round. Naveen defeated another boxer from Finland in Antti Lehmusvirpi in the +91kg category.

Around 100 boxers from 15 countries are participating in this tournament held at the capital city of Finland.