Boxing: Pakistan crash out of World Championship

Olympic hopes receive setback as boxers go down in last-32 matches.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s hopes of securing berths at next year’s London Olympics received a major jolt as Mohammad Waseem and Amir Khan fell in their respective last-32 battles to bow out of the World Boxing Championship underway in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The defeats ended Pakistan’s campaign in the competition, the quarter-finalists of which will confirm their place in London. Mohammad Hussain, the third boxer to represent the country, was already knocked out of the event after losing his first bout.

According to the details, Waseem went down fighting to Mexican boxer Elias Emigdio in the 52-kilogramme (kg) battle.

Waseem relied on his defensive approach in the first round but the Mexican, showing more accuracy, took a 6-4 lead. The second round turned out to be the same for Waseem as Emigdio enjoyed a 12-8 lead after the second round.

With a four-point deficit, Waseem switched to an attacking mode and scored six points but conceded as many as the Mexican seal an 18-14 win.

Meanwhile, Amir’s defeat in the 64-kg bout against Mehdi Toloutibandpi of Iran brought curtains down on the country’s campaign.

The Karachi-based boxer, who registered an emphatic victory in his first fight, missed targets despite getting several chances, allowing a comfortable 28-17 victory to the Iranian in the end.

PBF eyes Asian Championship after failure

The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) expressed disappointment following the boxers’ failure in Baku.

“We’re disappointed,” the PBF Secretary Akram Khan told The Express Tribune from Baku. “Both boxers had the potential to outplay their opponents,” said Akram before shifting his focus to next year’s Asian Championship in February that will be the last opportunity for Pakistan pugilists to qualify for the London Olympics.

“We’ll plan better for that event which will be a tough one.”

Haroon cleared to represent Pakistan

However, Pakistan’s chances were boosted after the PBF confirmed Haroon Khan’s participation in the Olympic qualifiers in February.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) expressed reservations over Haroon representing Pakistan but the PBF President Doda Khan Bhutto said that the matter was resolved. “The matter has been sorted out,” said Bhutto. “The AIBA had concerns that Haroon represented England in 2009 at the European Games, but we have resolved the issue.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2011.