An Olympic quota place pocketed, Indian boxer Shiva Thapa (56kg) ended his campaign with a silver medal after losing in the final of the Asian/Oceania Qualifying Tournament Qian'an, China on Friday. The 22-year-old Assamese, who is a World Championship bronze-medallist, went down 0-3 to Thailand's Chatchai Butdee in the summit clash. Butdee is the reigning Asian champion. Shiva had booked his ticket to Rio de Janeiro by making the finals yesterday after beating Kazakhstan's Kairat Yeraliyev. Meanwhile, it was a heartbreak once again for L Devendro Singh (49kg), who missed a second opportunity to qualify for the Olympics. The Commonwealth silver-medallist, who lost in the semifinals a day prior, went down in the box-off for the Olympic slot on Friday.
India has huge expectations from these champions. Rediff.com's Laxmi Negi and Norma Godinho glance at their chances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
'I will try my best to win gold at the Olympics. You can be assured that I will put in more than 100 per cent to achieve it.'
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
'Everyone wants to get involved when there is success.' 'But what about guaranteeing it?' 'Making sure girls have the opportunity to succeed all the time?'
He had already scripted history but the Indian boxing ace said he wasn't quite done as he aimed for the gold in the World Championship
As the curtains come down at the Tokyo Olympics, here's a glance at the medallists and those who came within touching distance of glory.
Teen sensation Shiva Thapa (56kg) inched closer to Olympic qualification but the London dream ended for Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Suranjoy Singh (52kg) who lost in the second round of the Asian Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan on Saturday.
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is among the 20 sportspersons picked for the Arjuna Awards, who will be honoured by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Now boxer Manoj Kumar, a World Championships quarter-finalist, also a two-time Asian Championships bronze-medallist is seeking an appointment with Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, saying he was ignored for the Arjuna despite fine performances.
Indian boxing legend M C Mary Kom, who claimed a gold medal on debut at the Commonwealth Games, will be India's flagbearer at the event's closing ceremony, in Gold Coast, on Sunday.
Rounding off a reasonably successful campaign for India, Shamjetsabam Sarjubala (48kg) and Pinki Jangra (51kg) clinched god medals.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
The shoddy state of the Games Village stood exposed on Saturday when the Indian boxing team checked in at their residential block only to find defending Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar's bed collapsing.
The 26-year-old boxer is aiming to become India's first boxer with three back-to-back Asian Games medals.
A hoped-for fight to the finish for the year-end number one ranking at next month's ATP World Tour Finals in London will likely be a coronation for Rafael Nadal, who is virtually guaranteed ending 2017 top of the pile.
Diwakar Prasad and Harpal Singh progressed into the semifinals of their respective boxing events.
Mary Kom lets it rip after winning trial bout against Nikhat Zareen
Mary Kom will represent the Asian bloc in the group
Five-time boxing World champion M C Mary Kom on Saturday said it is very disappointing that India ranks number 3 in doping and urged the government and Sports Authority of India (SAI) to do more to curb the menace.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday.
The fast-rising Ankush Dahiya (60kg) clinched a gold while the experienced L Devendro Singh (52kg) settled for a silver medal on the final day of the Ulaanbaatar Cup boxing tournament in Mongolia.
The 34-year-old, a five-time World champion and an Olympic bronze-medallist, struggled to connect clean punches against her taller rival and was even warned once for excessive bending.
India's 572 athletes hope to return home with an overflowing treasure chest of medals.
The diminutive Manipuri became the most successful boxer in world championships' history when she claimed the 48kg category top honours in November last year in Delhi.
Virat Kohli sent the shutterbugs into a clicking frenzy as he received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
Mary Kom is expected to be back in action at the World Championships to be held in New Delhi in November.
>There's still hope and plenty to play for, says Rediff.com's Aruneel Sadadekar.
Where stalwarts like MC Mary Kom failed, Sonia Lather brought home a medal.
India's boxer Shiva Thapa says throwing caution to the wind and hurting rivals from the very first second is helping him rediscover himself after enduring an erratic season last year.
Impressed by India's performance at the Doha International Tournament, Aussie boxers want exchange programme with India, claims coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday
In a letter to the Minister, Amit Panghal, who became India's first male boxer to win a world championship silver last year, said that athletes should not have to plead their case for an award by nominating themselves.
Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom settled for a bronze medal at the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) Olympic Test event in Rio de Janeiro after going down in the semifinals.
As another eventful year draws to a close, Rediff.com gives you a pictorial look back at the best and worst moments that shaped the sports stories this year.
India dominated the range and the ring as Shreyasi Singh's double trap gold shored up the medal tally while the entire men's Indian boxing contingent made the semi-finals to be assured of podium finishes in an unprecedented performance on Day 7 of the 21st Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast on Wednesday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Olympic bronze-medallist and five-time world champion M C Mary Kom on Sunday denied reports that she made disparaging remarks against fellow male boxers like Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar during a meeting of the national observers in New Delhi.
