Seasoned Indian boxer Shiva Thapa (64kg) secured his fifth successive medal at the Asian Championships by advancing to the semifinals after out-punching Kuwait`s Nader Odah in the last-eight stage here on Tuesday. Thapa prevailed 5-0 in a lop-sided clash to set up a showdown with defending champion and top seed Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan. Usmonov outclassed John Paul Panuayan.

Thapa won a gold in the 2013 championships, bronze in 2015 and 2019 and silver in 2017. He is assured of at least a bronze in the ongoing edition, bettering his own position as the most successful Indian boxer in the tournament`s history. Thapa was in control from the word go and was hardly tested by his opponent, who also faced a standing eight count in the opening round. The Assamese boxer was particularly impressive with his left jabs. However, Commonwealth Games bronze-winner Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg) went down to Uzbekistan`s reigning world champion Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov in a fiercely-fought quarterfinal.