Amit Panghal, Shiva Thapa secure place in Indian boxing team for Commonwealth Games

Panghal, the 2019 world championship silver medallist, secured his place in the 51kg division and Thapa clinched the 63.5kg spot in the trials.

File photo of Amit Panghal.

World championships medallists Amit Panghal and Shiva Thapa were among the leading boxers who made it to the Indian men’s boxing squad on Thursday for this year’s Commonwealth Games.

In the selection trials at the NIS Patiala, Panghal, a 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, defeated fellow Services boxer Deepak Kumar 4-1 in the 51kg division final to grab a spot in the quadrennial event to be held in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8.

Five-time Asian championships medallist Shiva Thapa beat his arch-rival and World championships bronze medallist and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Manish Kaushik 5-0 to take the 63.5kg slot.

Last edition’s bronze medallist Mohammad Hussamuddin recorded a 4-1 win over Asian silver medallist Kavinder Singh Bisht to get picked in the 57 kg category.

Sagar shocked Olympian Satish Kumar 5-0 in the semifinals and National champion Narender 5-0 in the final to take the +92kg place.

Rohit Tokas (67kg), Thailand Open gold medallist Sumit Kundu (75kg), Olympian Ashish Kumar (80kg) and Asian champion Sanjeet (92kg) were the other boxers to get selected.

The women's trials for the Games will be held next week.

Men's Team: Amit Panghal (51kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), Rohit Tokas (67kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Ashish Kumar (80kg), Sanjeet (92kg) and Sagar (+92kg).