Why ‘Amir Khan’ tournament, ask former boxers

Erstwhile Pakistan pugilists question reasoning behind Rangers’ decision

KARACHI: Former international boxers are questioning the decision to name the ongoing national tournament after British boxer Amir Khan, whose parents belong to Pakistan.

Pakistan Rangers have organised a week-long All-Pakistan Amir Khan tournament in Karachi, which is featuring 180 boxers from 18 teams including departments and provincial squads.

However, 2002 Asian Gold medallist Mehrullah Lassi feels that this is one of the many instances when the federation — and in this case Rangers — downplayed the role of local boxing legends including Pakistan’s lone Olympic medallist Shah Hussain Shah.



“This isn’t the first time it’s happened. We feel betrayed and we will record a protest against this,” the 36-year-old told The Express Tribune.

Lassi retired from international boxing in 2010 and currently works as a traffic in-charge at Karachi Port Trust.

“We’re happy that a boxing tournament is happening, but naming it after a boxer who has never represented Pakistan would have a long-reaching impact,” he said. “The new generation remains unaware of our local heroes. The organisers could’ve named the tournaments after Shah Hussain Shah or Asghar Ali [former Asian champion and four-time SAF Games champion], both of whom have taken punches for Pakistan.”



Meanwhile, former international referee Akbar Ali Shah Qadri blamed the boxing federation’s approach, saying that the authorities are waiting for a foreign boxer to lift the game in Lyari, the hub of boxing in Karachi since years.

“Amir has no idea what Lyari is about or what it feels like to play for Pakistan,” said Qadri. “At the end of the day, he is a foreigner and his only connection with this country is that his parents were Pakistani. My question is: what about the boxers who served the country?”



On the other hand, Sindh boxing Association secretary Asghar Baloch said that the protests and reservations were baseless as it was up to the organisers whoever they want to name the tournament after.

“These people are no longer a part of the federation now, they are just talking out of the fear of being left behind,” said Baloch. “The Rangers naming the tournament after Amir is fine with us because no one can deny that he is a boxing legend. It’s alright if he isn’t a Pakistani; he is a Muslim and wants to open an academy in Pakistan, which is commendable. Therefore we will support it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2015.

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