National Boxing Championships: Shiva Thapa Sails Into Last-16, Gaurav Bidhuri Bows Out After First-Round Loss

Five-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa moved into the pre-quarterfinals with a knockout victory but former world championship bronze-winner Gaurav Bidhuri exited after an opening round loss in the men's National Boxing Championships.

Five-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (63.5kg) moved into the pre-quarterfinals with a knockout victory but former world championship bronze-winner Gaurav Bidhuri (57kg) exited after an opening round loss in the men's National Boxing Championships on Friday. Representing Assam, Thapa knocked out Shubham Mamta of Steel Plant Sports Board (SPSB) in the opening round of his bout. Shubham was attended to by the medical team after the body shot threw him off balance in the ring. "There is pain but he should be alright. He will be assessed again tomorrow," a top official at the tournament told PTI.

However, Bidhuri (Railways Sports Promotion Board) was upstaged by Haryana's Sachin, who prevailed 4-1 in the bout.

Another Haryana pugilist and South Asian Games champion Ankit Khatana made his way into the 75kg quarter-finals after he out-punched Himachal Pradesh's Dharm Pal in unanimous victory.

Telangana's Savio Dominic Michael (54kg) and Goa's Ashok Patil (67kg) too progressed to the last-eight stage with identical 4-1 victories.