Indian boxer Shiva Thapa won hisfifth successive medal at the Asian Boxing Championship. The 27-year-old athlete has became the most successful Indian male boxer in the history of the tournament by advancing to the semi-finals of the ongoing championship in Dubai. 

Thapa still can’t quite believe that securing a fifth medal back-to-back is “some sort of an unparalleled achievement”. He only felt it as a “sense of triumph over the wretched coronavirus.” The boxer won a gold in 2013, followed by a bronze in 2015, a silver in 2017 and another bronze in 2019. 

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The five-time medallist told PTI, “Wow! I didn’t really know that it would mean so much statistically,” as he geared up for his next clash against defending champion Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan for the 64kg category semi-final clash on Friday. 

He added, “I never thought I would be the first to do something like this. It is a good record to have against your name. Also makes me realise how time has flown. Is it that long since I first competed at Asian championship?”

When asked which win was his favourite, he replied, “Every medal has its own story, there can’t be favourites. Through these medals, I have been part of different teams, worked with different coaches. I am the constant along with a handful of people who have stood by me through everything.”

“Amid this deadly pandemic, to be able to compete and win medals in such a time, it feels as if I have beaten the virus for once,” Thapa said. Talking about World Cup in Germany last year, he said that he was forced to withdraw midway and was placed in quarantine after a support member tested positive for COVID-19. 

The Assamese boxer said that it was quite overwhelming to be in such a situation and took the Asian medal like and assertion that he won’t give up and it meant highly significant. 

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The only other pugilist with five Asian championship medals is Kazakh legend Vassiliy Levit, an Olympic silver-medallist and two-time world bronze-winner.

But even he does not have five on the trot like Thapa at the continental meet. Women’s legends MC Mary Kom (7) and L Sarita Devi (8) have more Asian medals than Thapa with the latter having the distinction of claiming six successive, five of them gold, at the peak of her prowess.

“To be anywhere close to these women’s achievements is in itself humbling. I am honoured, they are remarkable athletes,” he said.

Thapa has endured a couple of topsy-turvy years.

A two-time Olympian, he will not be there at the upcoming Tokyo Games after Manish Kaushik secured the 63kg category quota. He is disappointed about it but also able to see the brighter side of circumstances.

“Perhaps it’s a sign that I have to keep going, try harder, that’s what an athlete is supposed to do. We can’t give up. Obviously nothing compares to the Olympics, it is the biggest but you have to give your best in the opportunities you get, I am trying to do that,” he said.

“You keep giving your best and eventually the results come. Every moment is a blessing, I live by that,” he asserted.

Thapa is also grateful for how India’s sports administration has “worked round the clock” to ensure that athletes are well taken care of during a difficult time.

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“The Sports Authority of India, the boxing federation and the sports ministry, they have all done an unbelievable job in ensuring that we get to train and compete. It’s a privilege quite frankly,” he said.

“The circumstances are such that we have been in lockdown, training in a bubble with no contact with outsiders. It can all get very draining mentally but we have been looked after quite well. There is a robust support system, which is very reassuring in an individual sport,” he added.