Two-time Olympian Shiva Thapa dominated his new weight class in the Indian National Championships

The 63rd edition of the National Boxing Championships in India was held in Guwahati which is located in the Northeastern part of the country and well known as the biggest city in Assam state. India’s two-time Olympian Shiva Thapa shined in the competition in his new weight class and secured his next national title.
Haryana’s regional Champion 21-year-old Amit Panghal delivered the first sensation of the Indian National Boxing Championships at the light flyweight (49kg). He was named as Best Boxer in the previous junior and youth events but his triumph over AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shyam Kumar Kakara was an unexpected result in the final of the light flyweight (49kg).
Haryana region’s 19-year-old Deepak Singh delivered the next sensation of the Indian National Boxing Championships after Amit Panghal. The flyweight (52kg) boxer advanced to the final of the division and outpointed London 2012 Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Laishram Devendro Singh in the gold medal bout.
India’s bantamweight (56kg) hope, Tammer Tournament competitor Mohamed Hussamuddin competed well enough in the junior and youth age groups but currently he is already an elite boxer. The Andhra Pradesh boxer used his experiences to beat Akshay in the final of the weight class which was his first ever national elite title.
Two-time Olympian and 2013 ASBC Asian Champion Shiva Thapa moved up to the lightweight (60kg) after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and tried to adopt the level of the new category. The 23-year-old boxer worked successfully, he defeated national team member Ankush Dahiya for the gold medal while 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Vikas Malik claimed only a bronze medal in Guwahati.
Manipur’s Mayengbam Thomashmetei competed in the international level in the recent years but he could not get top results among the elite boxers yet. The 26-year-old light welterweight (64kg) boxer had enough experiences since 2007 to get the title in Guwahati where he had to do his very best and his tricky style against Rohit in the final.
Two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games winner veteran Manoj Kumar decided not to finish his career after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The 30-year-old boxer moved up to the welterweight (69kg) where he was too strong for Duryodhan Singh in the final while former ASBC Asian Junior Champion 19-year-old Prayag Chauhan showed also top performance and his bronze could be a first step in the elite level.
The middleweight (75kg) gold medal was achieved by Jaideep who trains in New Delhi and won a national title still back in 2011. The 24-year-old boxer is 180cm tall and used his height advantage to beat Venhlimpuia in the final of the weight class. Jaideep has been boxing since 2004 therefore his experiences could be enough also in the international level.
In the absence of London 2012 Olympian Sumit Sangwan a new boxer 23-year-old Manish Panwar won the gold medal at the light heavyweight (81kg). The Delhi-based boxer had a break in his carer but proved his skills are enough now to win gold medal in such a big event as the Indian National Championships. Panwar defeated Rahul in the final by 3:2 which shows the R&Js had hard job to pick the winner of the bout.
The heavyweight (91kg) gold medal was achieved by Gaurav who demonstrated his skills against Virender Kumar in Guwahati. The super heavyweight (+91kg) delivered an amazing battle between AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Satish Kumar and experienced Parveen Kumar. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Satish Kumar while tall Amritpreet Singh, who moved up one weight class, took bronze medal this time.

Winners in the Indian National Championships
49kg: Amit Panghal, 1995
52kg: Deepak Singh, 1997
56kg: Mohamed Hussamuddin, 1994
60kg: Shiva Thapa, 1993
64kg: Mayengbam Thomashmetei, 1990
69kg: Manoj Kumar, 1986
75kg: Jaideep, 1992
81kg: Manish Panwar, 1993
91kg: Gaurav, 1995
+91kg: Satish Kumar, 1989