Body of boxing legend Olympian Usmanullah Khan arrives in Pakistan

KARACHI: The body of boxing legend Olympian Usmanullah Khan will finally be arriving in Pakistan from Canada on Saturday evening to be buried in his home town of Faisalabad, nine days after his demise.

Usmanullah had been battling with a brain tumour and had been bed-ridden for the past two years.

His family had requested the government of Pakistan to send an air ambulance for him so that he could be flown back to Pakistan and they could see him alive for the last time. However, the request was not entertained.

In early February, one of his former students Peter Pollock came to visit him and upon seeing his condition and learning that the government has not extended any assistance, Pollock decided to shift Usmanullah to Canada for treatment.

However, it was already too late as Canadian doctors also declared the legend’s condition to be in a critical state and advised that further treatment was not possible.

Boxing legend Usmanullah loses battle with brain tumour

The 45-year-old boxer had represented Pakistan in Atlanta Olympics and Sydney Olympics after qualifying and also bagged Asian Games medals while touring several countries and winning 29 medals internationally in the span of his career that began in 1994. He retired in 2003 but continued to coach athletes locally as well as in the Middle East and Canada.

According to Usmanullah’s family, neither the Pakistan Sports Board contacted them to ask about his funeral arrangements, nor did the Pakistan Boxing Federation release any official statements about his death.

Per Usmanullah’s brother, Pakistan’s foreign office in Canada contacted the family and made arrangements to bring his body back to Pakistan.

Usmanullah's funeral will take place at 10:30 AM at Faisalabad's Ghulam Muhammad Cemetery on Sunday, March 1.