Over 120 pugilists to punch it out in Defence Day championship

'K-P has boxing talent but lack of opportunities kills dreams of young athletes'

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inter-Divisional Defence Day Boxing Championship will be held at Lala Aman Sports Arena where more than 120 pugilists will punch out in different weight categories.

K-P Boxing Association Secretary General Syed Kamal Khan said on Saturday the championship would start in the morning on September 6 and continue till midnight.

He said the arrival of the players would be completed on September 5. Players from Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Mardan, Hazara, Swat, and Dera Ismail Khan would be competing. He said the aim and objective of the championship is to give due opportunities to the talented pugilists of K-P. “We want to organise more events in every district and at regional level too, but paucity of funds is a punch in the face, due which the association is unable to do so,” he said.

Kamal Khan said the province has boxing talent but lack of opportunities kills the dreams of young athletes.

Many talented players failed to come up at national and international levels for want of promotion.

About the Defence Day Championship, Kamal Khan said that it is the annual calendar event and helps short-list athletes for the camp to be setup at the same venue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2018.