He is the youngest Indian boxer to enter the ring at the Olympics but 18-year-old Shiva Thapa isn’t showing any nerves. The Assamese boxer has been placed in the 56kg (Bantamweight) category after he made the cut for the Olympics by reaching the final of the Asian qualifiers in Astana. Thapa defeated Japan's Satoshi Simizu 31-17 to enter the final and book his London berth.
"I never thought it (Olympics) could come for me so soon. My parents and I were looking at Rio 2016. Now that I have qualified, I am putting everything in my effort to win a medal. Even when I won the silver in Singapore, the ultimate goal was to do well at the Olympics," Thapa said.
"It was an incredible feeling. Seeing the likes of Vijender (Singh) practising right in front of me was special. One year there saw me going to the next level. I have learnt to plan my fights. The support of the seniors and coaches has been immense.”
"Age doesn't really make any difference. Boxers younger than me have made a name for themselves around the world. I am no different and I am working as hard as I can for a podium finish,” he added.
Having nurtured his ambition since the age of 9, Thapa now stands in front of his biggest dream – an Olympic gold.
Shiva Thapa’s achievements:
2012 - Gold (Bantamweight) - Asian Olympic Qualifiers, Astana
2011 - Gold (Bantamweight) - Belgrade Winner Tournament, Belgrade
Vikas Krishnan
Vikas Krishan (69kg) is one of India’s most talented boxers and many reckon he, like Thapa, are a good bet for an Olympic medal. The 20-year-old sealed his Olympic slot by clinching a bronze at the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Krishan hogged the limelight after winning a gold (60kg) in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. He also won gold in the AIBA World Youth Championships early in the year, which was followed by a bronze in the Summer Youth Olympics before his Asiad gold in Guangzhou.
"My father told me 'Get me a medal from London and I would not ask for anything from you again'. I, too, have promised him to give my best in London," said the Haryana boxer. "I have always listened to whatever he says.”
Haryana has been steadily supplying the bulk of India's boxers, including 2008 Beijing bronze medalist Vijender Singh, and Krishan offers an interesting explanation as to why the area is a hotbed for pugilists.
"People in Haryana are very hard working. There are not many rich people there, so a lot of people engage in sports like boxing,” he said. "People there like fight movies. We have that kind of culture in Haryana, naturally people are like that. People in South India like studying a lot, those in Haryana like boxing.”
Will Vikas do Haryana and India proud? Time will tell.
Vikas Krishan’s achievements:
2010 - Gold (Lightweight) - AIBA World Youth Championships, Baku
2010 - Bronze (Lightweight) - Summer Youth Olympics, Singapore
2010 - Gold (Lightweight) - Asian Games, Guangzhou
2011 - Bronze (Welterweight) - AIBA World Boxing Champiomship, Baku
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