Shiva, Sachin enter semifinals of 8th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship

Shiva, Sachin enter semifinals of 8th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship

Former World Youth Champion Sachin Siwach and Asian Games representative Lakshya Chahar led a dominant charge by the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) on Day 5 of the 8th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship, with the unit securing nine berths in the penultimate round.

Meanwhile, Shiva Thapa, the reigning champion in the Welterweight (60-65kg) category, continued his fine run as he edged closer to defending his title with a quarterfinal win over Manipur’s Henthoi Mayengbam. Thapa will face Himachal Pradesh’s Abhinash Jamwal in the semifinals.

Jamwal, who upset 2022 Youth World Champion Vanshaj Kumar in the earlier rounds, continued his momentum with a 4-1 victory over Haryana’s Anshul in the quarterfinals, setting up an exciting clash against the seasoned Thapa.

Sachin delivered a flawless 5-0 victory over Himachal Pradesh’s Ashish Kumar in the Lightweight (55-60kg) category, while Lakshya matched the feat in the Light Heavyweight (75-80kg) category with a commanding win over his opponent.

Nine SSCB representatives have booked their places in the semifinals, highlighting their stronghold on the tournament.

The event will employ a 10-point scoring system, with each state unit able to enter up to ten boxers. Team SSCB, the two-time defending champion, entered the tournament as the favourite while seeking its third consecutive title.