Haroon, Waseem in Asian Games boxing squad

Pakistan Boxing Federation announces 11-member contingent to participate in Asian Games.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) has announced an 11-member contingent - including eight boxers - to participate in the Asian Games that will be held in Guangzhou, China, from November 12.

The squad includes Commonwealth Games’ (CWG) bronze-medallists Mohammad Waseem and Haroon Khan who will lead the country’s hopes of winning medals at the quadrennial event.

Pakistan camp commandant Iqbal Hussain announced the squad following consultation with Cuba-based national coach Francisco Hernandez Roldan. The squad also includes Naimatullah, Nawaz Dad, Arshad Hussain, Amir Khan, Nisar Khan and Mir Waiz.

“The boxers are in their best form and have been selected based on that,” Hussain told The Express Tribune following team’s announcement. “These are the best boxers available and hopefully they will do well in the event.”

The boxing camp is underway at the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad where the participants are being imparted training twice a day under the supervision of the Cuban coach.

“All the boxers and coaches are working hard for a positive result in the competition which we know will be very tough.”

PBF optimistic of a good show

The PBF Secretary Akram Khan said the federation is expecting another fine show from his boxers, adding that a few medals can be expected from national pugilists in the event.

“After winning two medals at the CWG, the boxers are confident of giving their best at Asiad,” said Khan. The boxers failed to clinch a single medal in the last Asian Games held in Doha with Mehrullah Lassi winning Pakistan’s only boxing gold in the Busan Games in 2002.

“The boxers disappointed in Doha but this time we hope of a better display from them,” he said before adding the federation was expecting a lot from Haroon and Waseem. “Haroon is training in England which will definitely benefit him while Waseem is in supreme form after winning the Combat Games’ gold medal and a bronze medal in India.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2010.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2010.