South Asian Games: Defeating India is our top priority: Khoushleem

Female boxer pumped up as Pakistan field women’s contingent for first time.

KARACHI: Pumped up and raring to go, Pakistan female boxers participating in the South Asian Games have warned their opponents not to take them lightly as they prepare to make their debuts in the regional mega event in India on February 13.

Khoushleem Bano, Rukhsana Parveen and Sofia Javed form the trio of female boxers who will represent Pakistan in the 51kg, 60kg and 75kg events respectively.



Even though the boxers want to shine in every bout they compete in, Khoushleem’s priority is to defeat Indian boxers and send out a message that Pakistani women ‘are not far behind their Indian counterparts’.

“It is a big event and we don’t know which athletes will be competing against, but defeating Indian boxers is my priority,” Khoushleem told The Express Tribune. “They started women’s boxing more than a decade ago and, while we are just making our debuts this year, I want to send a message.”

The players will leave for India on February 10 along with six male boxers in the squad.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th,  2016.

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