Top Indian pugilists advance in Asian Boxing Championships

Defending champion Shiva Thapa furthered his campaign

Indian boxers Shiva Thapa (56 kg) and Devendro Singh (49 kg) made strides in their quest for gold by advancing to the quarterfinals of the Asian Boxing Championships. Thapa is the defending champion in his weight category while Devendro Singh won a silver medal in the 2013 edition of the biennial tournament.

Thapa outfought Jordanian Mohammad Alwadi while Singh beat China’s He Junjun. Moving to the heavier weight classes, second-seeded Vikas Krishnan (75 kg) beat Turkmenistan’s Arslanbek Achilov, while Mandeep Jangra lost to Japan’s Yasuhiro Suzuki in the 69 kg category.