Boxer Thapa signs off with silver medal

NEW DELHI: Shiva Thapa’s (63.5kg) Asian Championships campaign came to a bittersweet end after he was forced to withdraw from the final midway due to an injury, bowing out with an unprecedented sixth medal, a silver, in Amman, Jordan on Saturday.

The 28-year-old, who became the most successful male boxer in the tournament, sustained an injury in his right knee in the opening seconds of the second round of the light welterweight gold medal bout against Abdullaev Ruslan of Uzbekistan, suffering a RSC (Referee stops the contest) loss.

Thapa, seeded third, was trailing when the injury occurred. He had lost the fast-paced opening round 0-5.

In the second round, while trying to make up ground, Thapa fell on the canvas after exchanging a few punches. He managed to rise up without any aid as the referee gave a count but the Indian looked in pain as play remained halted. Thapa then received medical attention as the ringside doctor examined his right knee.

Eventually the bout was called off as Thapa hobbled away. The seasoned boxer struggled to even stand up while the referee announced the winner.

His haul now includes a gold (2013), three silvers (2017, 2021 and 2022) and two bronze medals (2015 and 2019).