Sports

Amir Khan decides against representing Pakistan in Rio Olympics

Brit acknowledges he will not be ready to seek place in Rio via qualification tournament

Sports Desk June 16, 2016

Amir Khan has acknowledged that he will not be ready to seek place in Rio via qualification tournament. PHOTO: REUTERS

British boxer Amir Khan has decided not to pursue the chance to represent Pakistan at the upcoming Rio Olympics, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old, who previously won a silver medal at 2004 Olympics in Athens, had earlier said he would “love” the opportunity to represent Pakistan.

However, now he has acknowledged that he will not be ready to seek a place in Rio via the final qualification tournament in Venezuela next month.

Amir Khan’s boxing event packs a punch

The Brit is still recovering from the sixth round knockout he suffered at the hands of Saul Alvárez in their WBC middleweight title fight in Las Vegas in May.

Amir had earlier raised the possibility of returning to Olympics after the world governing body, AIBA, ratified the eligibility of professional boxers for the event.

Would love to compete for Pakistan in Rio, says Amir Khan

Amir, who risked a two-year ban by the World Boxing Council had he made a return to the Games, is one of the few fully professional fighters to speak out in favour of the move.

COMMENTS (8)

FAZ | 8 years ago | Reply @salman: When did anyone from "Pakistan" did ask him to represent Pakistan anywhere? His efforts for the sportsmen of Liari is well appreciated but he is a British National. Cant represent Pakistan.

laughable | 8 years ago | Reply Just because your parents were born in Pakistan doesn't give you the right to represent Pakistan in the Olympics. Amir Khan was born in the UK and the Olympic Committee would not consider him eligible to represent Pakistan unless he immigrated back to Pakistan and took citizenship (which he hasn't).

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buga | 8 years ago | Reply You don't get to represent a country in the Olympics just because your parents were born there. Khan was born in in the UK and has never obtained citizenship in Pakistan.

salman | 8 years ago | Reply Why Pakistan wants him to represent us in Olympics. This is sheer stupidity and unfair demand.

kahnakacha | 8 years ago | Reply He is not representing his birth Country either. So he is not ditching Pakistan for any other country. Although Professional boxers would be allowed to participate in Olympics this time, many professional boxers are against it. Armature boxing played in Olympics has a different format and tempo of the game is totally different. He made a wise decision, cross format fights at this stage, is not a good move for his career.

Sami Khan | 8 years ago | Reply He is British citizen as well. dont test his loyalty. he has moral obligations to his country as well. which is Britain. Muslims in Britain already going through a lot of difficulties. They want to prove their loyalty to Britain. That is their country.

Shahid | 8 years ago | Reply Excuses. Fact is once settled overseas. They love their green card too much to represent Pakistan and loose goodwill in their host country. With new passport they pretend like they are whites and ditch ancesterial Pakistani roots. See the case of Imran Tahir. Now he is famous class bowler, who will find no hurdles if he played for Pakistan team. But he won't. Selfish, ungrateful people have forgotten which country bred, fed them and their family.

NITS | 8 years ago | Reply What a shame!

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