India’s former World Championship bronze medallist, Shiva Thapa made a strong start in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, outplaying Pakistan’s Suleman Baloch 5-0 in a Round of 32 bout in the men’s light welterweight division (60kg-63.5 kg) to make it to the pre-quarterfinals here on Friday.

Playing from the Red corner, Shiva, the lone Indian boxer on display on the opening day of the competition, started strongly and did not give his opponents any chance as he won a unanimous decision for a win on points.