A father’s dream to see his kids attain greater heights than he ever could has given India a world-class boxer.
Karate enthusiast Padam Thapa could never make it beyond the state level. His older son even made it to the boxing nationals. But Shiva Thapa, his younger son, is now living up to his father’s greatest expectations.
Karate enthusiast Padam Thapa could never make it beyond the state level. His older son even made it to the boxing nationals. But Shiva Thapa, his younger son, is now living up to his father’s greatest expectations.
The 19-year-old is the youngest of the seven Indian male boxers
headed to London. “Due to limited resources, my father couldn’t proceed
beyond the state level,” says Thapa. “But he provided us with the best
of facilities. Despite having six children to feed, he made sure that
money was never a problem when it came to my training.”
Thapa started learning the basics of the sport under Sports
Authority of India coach Amar Deka in Guwahati. After excelling at the
sub-junior and youth levels – including a bronze at the Youth World
Championship – he graduated to the big league, stepping into the shoes
of Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist Akhil Kumar. “For the past one
year, London has been my only focus,” he says. “I want to win a medal
for all the sacrifices made by my father.”
Thapa started learning the basics of the sport under Sports
Authority of India coach Amar Deka in Guwahati. After excelling at the
sub-junior and youth levels – including a bronze at the Youth World
Championship – he graduated to the big league, stepping into the shoes
of Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist Akhil Kumar. “For the past one
year, London has been my only focus,” he says. “I want to win a medal
for all the sacrifices made by my father.”
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