Boxing: Waseem disappointed at federation’s decision

Pakistan delay sending boxing squad to Kazakhstan for qualifiers.

KARACHI: Pakistan boxer Mohammad Waseem believes that the federation’s decision to delay sending the squad to Kazakhstan for the Asian Qualifying round ahead of the London Olympics could turn out to be a huge blunder.

Waseem, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, said that training in Kazakhstan for a month before the event could have provided Pakistan boxers with ideal preparation for the important competition.

“We should’ve gone there earlier,” Waseem told The Express Tribune. “Now, I can’t do fierce sparring with our coach and being there for longer would’ve helped as we could’ve practised more with the pros.

“I feel more fit than before and want to keep improving every aspect of my game in order to seal an Olympics berth.”

Pakistan boxers will now be leaving for Kazakhstan on March 17 to undergo extensive training at the country’s academy where they will be practising with top international boxers in order to get in shape for the Olympic qualifiers that kick off from April 4.

Meanwhile, despite Waseem’s apprehensions, coach Majeed Barohi remained optimistic that the training camp, currently underway in Islamabad, will help the players prepare adequately for the event. He said that the boxers will be undergoing special training from March that will help them raise their endurance levels.

Meanwhile, Pakistan are due to take on India on March 14 in a one-night fight event in New Delhi, which Barohi felt will train his players further before the qualifiers.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2012.