National Boxing Championship: Naimatullah bags 60kg title in Karachi

Quetta-based pugilist is hoping to make international comeback.

KARACHI: The 2010 South Asian Games gold-medallist Naimatullah proved his mettle at the 35th National Boxing Championship as he took the title in the lightweight category by outclassing Ali Ahmed 3-0 at the Benazir Sports Complex KPT, Karachi on Sunday.

Naimatullah is hoping to make an international comeback and the Quetta-based athlete believes it is time for the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) to stop ignoring his talent.

Naimatullah performed at the World Military Games back in 2013 and won a silver medal for PAF but the federation has been ignoring the pugilist’s ability to make a mark after his last appearance for the country at the 2010 SAF Games, where he bagged gold.

“It was a tough fight but I had to win,” the 24-year-old told The Express Tribune after defeating Wapda’s Ahmed 3-0 in the 60kg event. “I really want to play for Pakistan, I can win too, but if they still can’t see the potential then I can only keep striving for the best on my own.”

Meanwhile, Naimatullah’s teammate, Arshad Hussain, defeated Wapda’s Amir Khan 3-0. “It is my home ground since I’ve even worked at the KPT Stadium and my family was sitting there to see me, so it was a special win,” said Hussain.

PAF’s Mehmoodul Hassan won the 91kg title while Navy’s Tanveer Ahmed won the 75kg final.

Meanwhile, many participants at the championship believe that some decisions made were unfair and that the PBF has failed to organise a quality tournament.

“The boxers kept falling off the ring,” said one athlete. “There was only one ring for us to use and that too was not a proper one. The championship took place after a gap of almost three years; they could’ve done better.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th,  2015.

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