Boxing squad finalised for Olympic qualifiers

Will travel to China to compete in Asia-Oceania region bouts

KARACHI: The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) on Tuesday announced a 10-member squad for the Rio Olympic qualifiers Asia-Oceania region, with 2010 South Asian Games gold-medallist Naimatullah part of the squad.

Trials for selection were held on Tuesday at the National Coaching Centre and 17 boxers competed for the final-10 spots. The Olympic qualifiers would commence from March 23 in China.

Apart from Naimatullah (56kg), four silver-medallists from the South Asian Games — Mohibullah Bacha (49kg), Syed Asif Ali (52kg), Ali Ahmed (67kg) and Tanveer Ahmed (75kg) — are also part of the travelling contingent.



Naimatullah, who got injured during the Games in India in the first round, will get another chance to represent his country at the qualifiers and the 24-year-old is so excited for the event that he even missed his child’s birth as he was busy training.

“I’m just waiting for the qualifiers to begin; I’ve sacrificed a lot throughout this time and I need a win in China,” Naimatullah told The Express Tribune.

“I had my first child this month. I couldn’t even get home for that because it would’ve stopped my training. I have my eyes set on Rio and nothing else.”



Meanwhile Owais Ali Khan, who is competing in the 81kg category, feels that every boxer in the team is preparing for a gold medal. “It’s a dream for every boxer to represent the country in Rio.

“We know the odds are against us, but we will try our best,” said Owais.

Other boxers in the squad include Gul Zeb (64kg), Amir Khan (69kg), Sanaullah (91kg) and Mir Wais (+91kg).

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2016.

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