Shiva Thapa
Encyclopedia
Shiva Thapa is an Indian
boxer
from Guwahati
, Assam
. He trains at Pune
-based Army Sports Institute and is supported by Olympic Gold Quest
, a not-for-profit foundation to identify and support Indian athletes.
instructor in Guwahati
. His father and elder brother Gobind Thapa, an Assam
state-level medal winning boxer
, were sources of inspiration for the young Thapa; Mike Tyson
's bouts also inspired him to take the sport seriously. Padam noticed his son’s flair for boxing and made sure that his youngest son got all that he needed. Shiva rose early in the mornings to balance his training and studies. His practice first started in the living room of their house at the age of seven. It was not easy for Padam to support for his son's training, travel and special diet because of the large family. He ensured that the monthly expenditure of was taken care of. Things become simple for the Thapa family when Olympic Gold Quest
, a not-for-profit foundation to identify and support Indian athletes, decided to support the young boxer as a part of their Vision 2016 initiative. While signing Thapa, Viren Rasquinha
, the chief operating officer of Olympic Gold Quest said:
that was held in Moscow
, Shiva Thapa won a bronze medal in his category. At the same year's Haider Aliyev Cup, he won the gold medal. Owing to this performance, he was chosen to represent India
in the 52-kg category at the 2009 Junior World Boxing Championships in Armenia
. Incidentally, Thapa was the lone international medalist from the team of seven boxers that traveled to Yerevan
. Though Thapa ended up with a bronze medal, the coach expressed his satisfaction at the boxers' performance who returned with their biggest haul of medals from this competition.
At the 2010 Asian Youth Boxing Championships that was held in Tehran
, Thapa had a dismal performance when he didn't reach the semifinals in his category. At the Second Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships
, Thapa was a part of the Indian team. This competition attracted a huge number of boxers because it was the only qualification event for the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics
. Touted to be a strong gold medalist, Thapa lost the finals and ended up with a silver medal. An injured fist during the semifinal bout left him in poor shape before the final bout. After having qualified for the Summer Youth Olympics, the Indian coach suggested Thapa with a 20-day break to recover from his injury. At the Youth Olympics, Thapa won the silver medal in the 54-kg category after losing to a Cuban boxer in the finals. Currently, Thapa is preparing for the 2012 Summer Olympics
.
In appreciation of his accomplishments, the Government of Assam
rewarded him with . The Indian Olympic Association
awarded him with while congratulating him for his silver medal at the Youth Olympics.
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. He trains at Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
-based Army Sports Institute and is supported by Olympic Gold Quest
Olympic Gold Quest
Olympic Gold Quest is a program of the Foundation Of Sports And Games , started by Indian sporting icons Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone to identify and support Indian athletes with a proven track record and who have the potential to win Olympic gold medals...
, a not-for-profit foundation to identify and support Indian athletes.
Foray into boxing
Shiva Thapa was born as the youngest of six siblings born to Padam Thapa, a karateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
instructor in Guwahati
Guwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
. His father and elder brother Gobind Thapa, an Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
state-level medal winning boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, were sources of inspiration for the young Thapa; Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
's bouts also inspired him to take the sport seriously. Padam noticed his son’s flair for boxing and made sure that his youngest son got all that he needed. Shiva rose early in the mornings to balance his training and studies. His practice first started in the living room of their house at the age of seven. It was not easy for Padam to support for his son's training, travel and special diet because of the large family. He ensured that the monthly expenditure of was taken care of. Things become simple for the Thapa family when Olympic Gold Quest
Olympic Gold Quest
Olympic Gold Quest is a program of the Foundation Of Sports And Games , started by Indian sporting icons Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone to identify and support Indian athletes with a proven track record and who have the potential to win Olympic gold medals...
, a not-for-profit foundation to identify and support Indian athletes, decided to support the young boxer as a part of their Vision 2016 initiative. While signing Thapa, Viren Rasquinha
Viren Rasquinha
Viren Wilfred Rasquinha was the captain of India's national field hockey team. The midfielder made his international senior debut in May 2002, at a Four Nation Tournament in Adelaide. He studied at the St...
, the chief operating officer of Olympic Gold Quest said:
Shiva is an enormous talent. He must be groomed well because he has the talent, the right attitude and the hunger to succeed. OGQ has very high hopes from Shiva and I am confident that he will become one of India's top boxing stars in the near future.
As an amateur boxer
At the 2008 Children of Asia International Sports GamesChildren of Asia International Sports Games
Children of Asia International Sports Games were launched in 1996 under the initiative of the first President of the Sakha Republic Mikhail Nikolayev; they were devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Olympic Movement...
that was held in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Shiva Thapa won a bronze medal in his category. At the same year's Haider Aliyev Cup, he won the gold medal. Owing to this performance, he was chosen to represent India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the 52-kg category at the 2009 Junior World Boxing Championships in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. Incidentally, Thapa was the lone international medalist from the team of seven boxers that traveled to Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
. Though Thapa ended up with a bronze medal, the coach expressed his satisfaction at the boxers' performance who returned with their biggest haul of medals from this competition.
At the 2010 Asian Youth Boxing Championships that was held in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Thapa had a dismal performance when he didn't reach the semifinals in his category. At the Second Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships
2010 Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships
The 2010 Youth World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Baku, Azerbaijan from April 25 to May 3, 2010.It was the second edition of the Youth World Championships which had taken over from the Junior World Championship....
, Thapa was a part of the Indian team. This competition attracted a huge number of boxers because it was the only qualification event for the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics
2010 Summer Youth Olympics
The 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, officially known as the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games , were an international multi-sport event for youths that took place in the city-state of Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010, in the XXIX Olympiad. They were the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics, a major...
. Touted to be a strong gold medalist, Thapa lost the finals and ended up with a silver medal. An injured fist during the semifinal bout left him in poor shape before the final bout. After having qualified for the Summer Youth Olympics, the Indian coach suggested Thapa with a 20-day break to recover from his injury. At the Youth Olympics, Thapa won the silver medal in the 54-kg category after losing to a Cuban boxer in the finals. Currently, Thapa is preparing for the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
.
In appreciation of his accomplishments, the Government of Assam
Government of Assam
The Government of Assam is the provincial governing authority of the state of Assam in the Republic of India.It consists of the Governor as the head of the state, who is nominated by the Government of India. The head of government is the Chief Minister, who is the leader of the group that commands...
rewarded him with . The Indian Olympic Association
Indian Olympic Association
The Indian Olympic Association is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at the events...
awarded him with while congratulating him for his silver medal at the Youth Olympics.
External links
- Shiva Thapa at Olympic Gold QuestOlympic Gold QuestOlympic Gold Quest is a program of the Foundation Of Sports And Games , started by Indian sporting icons Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone to identify and support Indian athletes with a proven track record and who have the potential to win Olympic gold medals...