MOTIVATED: Awais is not taking the chance to represent Pakistan lightly. PHOTO COURTESY: AWAIS ALI KHAN
The 30-year-old, a Naik in the Pakistan Army, is not taking the opportunity lightly after qualifying for the event where 280 boxers from all over the world would be participating.
Awais booked his place at the World Championships after defeating India's Manish Panwar at the Asian Championship in Tashkent in the light heavyweight category, and he is savouring the chance to bring a medal for Pakistan in the 81-kg event.
"I've been working very hard," said Awais, who is training in Rawalpindi and will leave for Germany on August 21. "I'm very happy to be representing Pakistan at the World Championship after a very long time. The bottom line is I want to do something for Pakistan and now I've been given this opportunity — I want to make the most of it. I have participated in the competitions abroad five times before, even at the Islamic Solidarity Games, but I think it is high time I win something for my country."
Awais, who belongs to Attock district, turned to boxing in 2012 after he chose to represent Army’s departmental team, and excelled immediately by winning the national championship in 2014.
"It's not a popular sport in Attock; no one knows about boxing really," admitted Awais. "And it was luck that brought me into it. We had a brawl and one of my seniors — Hawaldar Shaukat — told me that I punch well and that I should train for boxing. That was a turning point. So I started learning the sport in 2012 and two years later, in 2014, I won the national championship. I know I started late, but I feel I am catching up."
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