Amir visits Lyari, kindles hope among its boxers

UK-born world icon attracts large crowds at Sindh Sports Board camp

KARACHI: For 15-year-old Zohaib, August 26 is the day he will remember all his life as he got to meet World Boxing Council Silver Welterweight champion Amir Khan in his own locality.

Amir visited Lyari on Wednesday and while the international sports star is likely to forget the faces in the massive crowds that poured out to see him, the younger generation of boxers in the locality found hope.

Such was the impact of Amir’s visit to the Sindh Sports Board (SSB) camp, which began on Wednesday, that despite being the lankiest boy in the group, Zohaib believes he can become a world-class boxer.

“I just met Amir Khan,” said Zohaib after the event where two bouts also took place among national players. “He liked us, I think. I can’t believe I met the champion. Amir said that he will make a boxing academy for Lyariites too.”



Zohaib and his friends are a part of the community that has produced most noteworthy boxers for the country and the only Olympic-medal winning boxer, Hussain Shah.

According to Amir, his visit was meant to encourage and raise the spirits of the 70-odd aspiring boxers who will be training at the SSB camp. “I’m pleasantly surprised to see the love I received from the people of Lyari,” Amir told The Express Tribune after his visit. “I’m happy to see the passion of boxing and the sport’s legacy in Lyari. It will be an honour to give something back to these people. Meeting my fans everywhere only motivates me to train hard and win for them and make Pakistan proud.”

The UK-born Olympic silver-medallist, known for having the fastest pair of hands in the sport, now plans to launch the Amir Khan Trust and Foundation in December and wants to revisit Karachi later this year.

Meanwhile, the sentiments of Imran Shah, the winner of the heavyweight bout against Noora said that it was motivating for him to perform in front of Amir and win.

“We were a little nervous to spar before Amir. He is a professional boxer of the highest level, so it was huge for us,” said Imran. “He told me that his academy would help athletes like me too.”

Sindh Boxing Association secretary Asghar Baloch said that Amir’s visit is a big boost for Lyari boxers. “After watching the bouts, Amir said that the next world champion can also come from Lyari. We are glad that we impressed him,” said Baloch.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th,  2015.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.