Boxer Shiva Thapa qualifies for Rio Olympics

World Championships bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg) became the first Indian boxer to make the cut for this year's Olympics by entering the Asian Qualifying Tournament's final but the celebrated M C Mary Kom (51kg) failed to book her Rio Games ticket after losing in the last-four stage.
•    Shiva, given the top seeding in his weight category, lived up to the billing as he sailed past 2013 World Championship bronze-medallist Kairat Yeraliyev of Kazakhstan in the semi-final. He will face second seed Chatchai Butdee of Thailand in the final tomorrow.
•    With today's victory, the 22-year-old Indian is set for his second Olympic appearance, four years after he became the youngest boxer to qualify for the multi-sporting extravaganza.
•    However, it was heartbreak for another top seed, Mary Kom, who went down to old foe Ren Cancan of China in the semifinals, which will only translate into a bronze medal for her. 
•    In the women's category, only the gold and silver medal winners from this tournament will qualify for Rio Olympics.
•    The five-time world champion and London Olympics bronze-medallist, however, has another chance of qualifying for the Rio Games during the World Championships in May.
•    Another Indian in fray in the men's draw was Commonwealth Games silver-medallist and fourth seed L Devendro Singh (49kg) but he lost to top seed Rogen Ladon of Mongolia in the semi-finals.
•    Assured of a bronze medal, Devendro will now fight it out for an Olympic quota place by taking on Mongolia's third-seeded Gan-Erdene Gankhuyag tomorrow.
•    National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu was effusive in his praise for Shiva, while also lauding the effort of other boxers.