Boxing World Championship: ‘Lack of funds will not jeopardise participation’

PBF secretary hopes Pakistan pugilists will compete in Kazakhstan.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Secretary Iqbal Hussain is hopeful that despite a lack of funds, they will succeed in fielding a team in the AIBA World Championship, which begins today in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

“The PBF is short on funds so far but I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to solve this problem tomorrow [today],” Hussain told The Express Tribune. “If we fail, then Mohammad Waseem will represent Pakistan at the mega event as he is already present there.”

A five member squad including Hussain, coach Ali Baksh and boxers Nadir Baloch, Mohib Bacha and Mir Baloch is scheduled to depart today.

Star boxer Waseem, who will be fighting in the 52kg category, is already in Almaty where he has attended a training camp supervised by some of the most qualified coaches in the sport.

The event will mark a comeback for Bacha, who won the gold medal at the first Benazir Bhutto International Boxing tournament. Hussain feels that Bacha is a talented boxer who can upset anyone on his day.

Over the years, Pakistan have failed to impress at the World Championships which is in sharp contrast to the performance of national boxers at the Asian and South Asian levels. Even at the Olympics Hussain Shah managed to win a Bronze in 1988.

Waseem impresses in AIBA training camp

The official revealed that Waseem has been in superb form throughout the training camp in Almaty where he finished as the top boxer.

“Waseem was the best boxer in the matches that were played at the training camp,” claimed Hussain.

“AIBA’s American coach was so impressed with him that he has promised to fight for Waseem and earn him a two-year professional training scholarship in the US in order to prepare him for the 2016 Olympics. Waseem will be our main hope and hopefully he’ll win a medal for Pakistan while Nadir Baloch’s chances are good as well in the 56kg competition.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2013.

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