Boxing federation wants long-term coach

PBF keen to start Rio 2016 planning right now, says secretary.

KARACHI:

Facing severe criticism following Pakistani boxers’ failure to qualify for the London Olympics, the country’s boxing federation is in talks with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to hire a professional coach on a four-year contract, keeping the 2016 Rio Olympics in mind.

Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Secretary Akram Khan sought permission from PSB Director Akhtar Ganjera about the project and has asked  the Cuba boxing federation to recommend a top coach.

“We’re waiting to get recommendations from Cuba in order to finalise a coach for our boxers,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “Ad-hocism is not the correct way to produce results and long term planning is needed which will cover the SAF Games, Commonwealth Games and other major events before the 2016 Rio Games. This will help our boxers improve their technique with a single coach instead of multiple officials.”

He termed India as the best example because they have stuck to a single coach for the last 12 years and their results have been impressive.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2012.