Thapa enters boxing final at Youth Games

Boxer Shiva Thapa out-punched Zack Davies of Britain 14-4 to enter the final of the 54 kg category at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore on Sunday.

Davies had the height advantage, but Shiva with his deft left hooks and straight punches took a 5-1 lead at the end of round one. In the second round, Shiva attacked relentlessly and increased his lead to 10-3. In the final round, Shiva added four points to his score.

India will be looking to win its first gold and add to the country’s tally of five medals when he takes on Ramirez Robeisy in the final.

The Cuban boxer, who defeated Michelus Dawid of Poland in the other semifinal on Sunday, had defeated Shiva at the World Youth boxing championships in May for the gold medal.

Another Indian boxer in fray on Sunday, Krishan Vikas, lost to Evaldas Petrauskas of Lithuanian 3-4 in the 60 kg semifinal bout.

In basketball, Indian boys defeated South Africa 27-11 in the round robin stage. In table tennis, Avik Das of India lost to El Salvador’s Mejia Luis 10-12 6-11 11-6 9-11 in the men’s singles second stage group match.

In the boys 3000 m final, Indrajeet Patel finished 11th while in the 10,000 metre walk, Kuldeep Kumar came ninth.