‘Boxing camp delayed by lack of interest’

Federation rues sports board's decision.

KARACHI: The boxing training camp ahead of a series of international tournaments preceding the 2012 London Olympics is facing delay due to lack of interest shown by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), according to the federation secretary.

The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Secretary Akram Khan complained that the pugilists are waiting for a response by the PSB before they train for the qualifying tournaments of next year’s quadrennial multi-sporting event.

“The camp was supposed to start in Islamabad at the beginning of February,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “But we’re yet to receive a go-ahead despite repeated reminders. The delay is due to a lack of interest by the PSB and that is hampering our preparations for the Olympics qualifying events.”

The secretary feared that the boxers, who were last seen in action at the National Games in December, would get rusty if the camp faced further delay.

“The boxers are training on their own without proper guidance which will affect their technique. A proper training camp is a must for them.”

The federation planned participation in 14 international competitions this year before September’s World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, that will serve as the first Olympics qualifiers. However, it has withdrawn its participation from a tournament scheduled for this month in Hungary.

“We didn’t want to send our boxers without training. It would have been a total waste of money.”

PSB not renewing coach’s contract

Khan added that the PSB also refused to renew the contract of Cuba-based national coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan.

“It is a huge setback for our boxers because it’s high time for them to train under him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2011.