Commonwealth Games 2022: After Tokyo 2020 Olympics miss, confident Shiva Thapa eyes maiden gold

Having missed the plane to Tokyo 2020, Indian boxer Shiva Thapa will be looking to make up for his qualification failure by setting the Commonwealth Game stage ablaze.

Although Thapa was touted as one of the medal contenders, he failed to make the cut for the last Olympics. However, that did not deter the 28-year-old Assam-based pugilist's spirits. In June, Thapa registered a thumping 5-0 win against Manish Kaushik in the CWG trials, reserving a berth for himself in the 63.5kg category for the upcoming quadrennial event.

Thapa who played at the London 2012, at the age of 18, is the youngest Indian boxer ever to qualify for the Olympics.

Also Read Commonwealth Games 2022: Can World Champion Nikhat Zareen make India proud?

The 2015 World Championship bronze medallist has won 5 Asian Championship medals, including a gold, a couple of silver medals and a bronze.

The 3rd ranked pugilist in the Bantamweight category will be looking to defy all odds at Birmingham 2022.