Shiva, Sachin Shine with Successive Wins; Devendra Impresses in 8th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship

Shiva Thapa and Sachin Siwach showcased outstanding performances on Day 4 of the 8th Elite Men's National Boxing Championship, earning dominant victories to reach the quarterfinals.

Competing for Assam, Thapa displayed exceptional form in the Welterweight (60-65kg) category, outclassing Himanshu Sangwan with a unanimous 5-0 decision.

Likewise, former World Youth Champion Sachin Siwach impressed yet again, defeating Kingson Pukhrambam from Manipur by an identical margin in his bout.

Devendra Solanki, representing Rajasthan, has been among the most impressive athletes in the Flyweight (47-50kg) division. Demonstrating remarkable consistency, Solanki secured his third consecutive win of the competition by beating Mizoram's Zorammuana through a unanimous verdict, advancing to the last eight.

In another major development, Abhinash Jamwal of Himachal Pradesh delivered a stunning upset, overcoming Vanshaj Kumar-the 2022 Youth World Boxing Champion (63.5kg) from the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB)-with a commanding 5-0 win, booking his quarterfinal berth in style.

The championship is being hosted by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Boxing Association at Invertis University in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, from January 7 to 13, 2025.

Approximately 300 participants are competing in this week-long event, which adheres to the World Boxing Technical & Competition Rules, featuring three rounds of three minutes each, with one-minute intervals for rest.

Elsewhere, Gopi from Punjab ended Govind Sahani's strong run in the Flyweight category, securing a Round 3 victory to eliminate the Strandja Memorial silver medallist. Bhanu Prakash of Andhra Pradesh also delivered an eye-catching performance, knocking out Umesh Chavan of Goa to advance to the next stage of the tournament.

The Services Sports Control Board extended their dominance, with several boxers securing spots in the quarterfinals. Alongside Sachin Siwach, Hitesh Gulia (Light Middleweight), Deepak (Welterweight), Jugnoo (Cruiserweight), and Vishal (Heavyweight) claimed decisive victories, further establishing SSCB as the team to beat.

The competition uses a 10-point must scoring system, allowing each state to field up to ten boxers. As the defending champions, SSCB entered the tournament as strong favourites and are aiming for their third consecutive title, reinforcing their supremacy in Indian boxing.