EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SHIVA THAPA (16yrs)- Young Indian Boxing Champion (International Champion) I was born to be a boxer – Shiva Thapa He played soccer like any other next door guy, cricket never could fascinate him and barely at 7 he donned the boxing gloves that brought international gold medal for the nation and glory for the 16 years old boxer from Assam. Promising young Indian boxer Shiva Thapa in an exclusive interview with Nanda Kirati Dewan at his Birubari residence in Guwahati spoke his heart out. In a reply to a question "If not a boxer What would Shiva Thapa be?"….. After a pause with a sweet innocent smile "Sir, I was born to be a Boxer." Recently Shiva won a bronze medal at the World Junior Boxing Championship in Armenia. Here are the excerpts of interview. NKD.:- Shiva, Congratulations for the laurels you brought for the nation and state! Shiva.:- Its my pleasure and I m really honoured. Thank You Sir. NKD.:- Shiva be formal…. No more Sir OK. Shiva.:- No Sir…. I m OK. NKD.:- But I m not OK dear … Shiva how did boxing happen? Shiva.:- Initially like any other next door guy I too played soccer and I need to admit that I was good with soccer too. Later at one stage I tried myself with taekwondo and I excelled in it too. But finally under my father I took up an individual game as my brother Gobind Thapa is also a boxer. I was only 7 years when I donned the boxing gloves. NKD.:- Where were you trained initially? Shiva.:- Intially I was trained in this room ( We are in the drawing room of Mr. Padam Thapa’s residence where medals, citations, trophies, jhapis and other felicitated decorative items were decorated) by my father. I should say that my father Padam Thapa is a cultured sportsman and has this spirit even today. He is my first coach. It was he who took me to Sports Authority of India(SAI), Guwahati and got admitted their for nurturing my talent at that time I was barely 7. ......... For more CLICK HERE