World Series Boxing: Having put injury woes behind, Shiva Thapa guns for Asian Games glory

Indian boxer Shiva Thapa will make his much-awaited return from injury when he lines up at the World Series Boxing. Shiva had to miss the Commonwealth Games due to his injury but will now be looking to put his woes behind him and start again on a high note.

The 24-year-old has been around the ring for a while now. He became the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics in 2012 when he defeated Syria's Wessam Salmana in the Asian Olympic Quarterfinals. He also entered the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. However, an ill-timed injury ruled him out of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"It is certainly tough being on the sidelines, especially when an event like the CWG is passing by," said Shiva in an exclusive interview to Sportskeeda. "It all depends on your mentality. You need to have a strong mentality to deal with these situations."

His absence, however, did not dampen the spirit in the Indian camp. The Indian boxers made sure to deliver such strong performances that would make Shiva proud. MC Mary Kom won the Gold medal in women's boxing while all the male boxers returned home with a medal.

Speaking of his compatriots Shiva acknowledged their achievements with great admiration, "It was a historic performance. Our boxers were amazing throughout the Commonwealth Games. They shone in the ring completely and showed their dominance."

Coming back strong from his injury, Shiva will turn his focus to the World Boxing Series, an event in which he has previously taken part. The WSB is a unique competition that allows boxers to go against each other in a franchise vs franchise format while maintaining their Olympic eligibility.

His return has been coming for a long time now. However, it wasn't all fun and games a few months ago when he was going through his injury. Shiva's injury did not dampen his spirits. He is back now and already looking forward to a strong future.

Before taking his leave, however, Shiva shares his experience with the hope that it might help young, budding athletes who might have to face a similar situation. "Injuries are always tough to deal with. But, you have to remember to be strong psychologically. At the end of the day, the only thing stopping you is your mentality," said Shiva. "Keep yourself mentally strong and face the situation head-on and you'll be back to your best before you know it," he added.

When asked about his upcoming targets, Shiva said,"Tokyo 2020 is definitely the main target. I have my eye on that but also the Asian Games, happening later this year, is a priority. However, for now, I'll turn my focus to the World Series Boxing and look to give my best."