30th October 2019: Former world bronze-winner Shiva Thapa (63kg) excelled into the finals of the Tokyo qualifying event along with the fellow Indian boxer Pooja Rani (75kg) here on Wednesday.
In the morning session of the semifinals, Thapa, a four-time Asian medallist who claimed his third national title earlier this month, defeated Japan’s Daisuke Narimatsu in a split verdict in the 63kg category.
Pooja Rani, a former Asian Games bronze-medallist, defeated Brazil’s Beatriz Soares in a congruent decision in the 75kg category. Pooja Rani had won a silver medal at the Asian Championships earlier this year.
While former junior world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) and Vahlimpuia (75kg) had to settle with bronze medals respectively as they crashed out in the semi-finals of the tournament. They crashed out of the qualifying event after losing their opening bouts at the Olympic Test Event.
Nikhat Zareen lost to Japan’s Sana Kawano in a split decision while Vahlimpuia was also beaten by a local favorite in Yuito Moriwaki in a unanimous call by the judges.
The remaining three Indian boxers in the fray — Asian silver-medallist Sumit Sangwan (91kg), Ashish (69kg), and Simranjeet Kaur (60kg) — will fight their semifinal bouts in the evening session.
