International boxing event in the works

KARACHI: Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) is planning to hold President Cup International Championship prior to the Commonwealth Games as part of their preparations for the mega event to be held this October in New Delhi.

PBF secretary Akram Khan said that the federation has already sent a request and is awaiting an NOC from the Sports Ministry to hold the event. “We want to give the best preparation to our pugilists for Commonwealth and the Asian Games in limited resources and for that purpose we want to hold an international event in September in Karachi,” Khan told The Express Tribune on Monday.

The secretary said the federation would send invitations to around 50 countries saying that foreign boxers are keen to play in Pakistan after the success of the Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship. Khan said the event would cost about Rs50 million which the federation would gather from government and private sectors. The PBF is also planning to send boxers to Cuba for training ahead of the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2010.