NOC issued for boxing event

Championship to be held from July 20.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) bid to revive international tournaments received a boost after it was issued the NOC for hosting the second edition of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship later this summer.

The event is scheduled from July 20 to 27 and fell in jeopardy after delays in the issuance of the NOC. However, following the development, the PBF has confirmed that the event will go on as planned.

“We were informed by the sports ministry today about the release of the NOC which we will receive shortly,” PBF Secretary Akram Khan told The Express Tribune. “There is little time left but we can manage to hold it according to the plans finalised earlier.”

Khan, who recently attended the Asian Boxing Federation (ASBC) elections in Azerbaijan, said the federation was expecting participants from over 50 countries in the tournament.

“Out of the 30 ASBC countries, 28 confirmed their participation,” he said.

“We received a good response from the African and European nations in the last edition and we are expecting the same this time.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th,  2011.