Shiva, Deepak to lead 13-member Indian team in World Boxing Championship
New Delhi. Six-time Asian Championship medalist Shiva Thapa and 2019 Asian Championship silver medalist Deepak Bhoria will lead the Indian team for the upcoming Men’s World Boxing Championships to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from April 30 to May 14. Shiva, who had won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships in Doha, would be eyeing another medal. He will represent the country in the 63.5 kg weight category.
One of the most improved boxers in recent times, Deepak will compete in the 51kg flyweight category. Deepak made headlines on the global stage in 2021 by defeating 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist and 2019 world champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan at the Strandja Memorial tournament. Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh said in a release, “The men’s team is working extremely hard and I wish them all the best. I am sure everyone will make the country proud. ,
The Indian team will leave for Tashkent on April 17 and will take part in training camps in several countries ahead of the World Championship. The championship featured seven defending world champions, including France’s Sophieanne Oumiha, Japan’s Tomoya Tsuboi and Sevenorettes Okazawa, Azerbaijan’s Loren Alfonso, Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibosinov, Cuba’s Yonelis Hernandez Martinez and Julio La Cruz. The Indian team also includes veteran and 2022 Asian Championship bronze medalist Mohammad Hussamuddin who will compete in the 57kg category. Tokyo Olympian and 2019 Asian Championship silver medalist Ashish Chowdhary will represent the country in the event for the second time.
Govind Sahni, who recently won a silver medal in the Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament, will show his prowess in the 48kg. The gold medalist will get $200,000, the silver medalist $100,000 and both the bronze medalists $50,000. The Indian team is as follows: Govind Sahni (48kg), Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Sachin Siwach (54kg), Mohd Hussamuddin (57kg), Varinder Singh (60kg), Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), Akash Sangwan (67kg), Nishant Dev (71kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Ashish Chowdhary (80kg), Harsh Chowdhary (86kg), Naveen Kumar (92kg) and Narendra Berwal (92+kg).
