Fruits of hard work: With money in hand, Waseem plans training stint in Cuba

Boxer wants to use PSB’s prize money to prepare for World Championships

KARACHI: Muhammad Waseem, the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist, is determined to represent Pakistan in the International Boxing Association World Boxing Championships this year and feels more confident after receiving Rs2million in prize money from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) this month.

The 27-year-old was on the verge of quitting the sport earlier this year, but now feels confident with the money he received for winning the silver medal in last year’s Commonwealth Games and plans to go to Cuba to train for the World Championships, which will take place in October.

“I will go to Cuba for sure,” Waseem told The Express Tribune. “It will be my last-ditch effort to prepare well for the World Championships. I still have at least seven months to train, so I’ll give Cuba a shot.”

Waseem also revealed that he is going to Cuba in order to train with former national coach Francisco Hernandes Roland. “Roland has offered to help me and has told me to come to Cuba to train with him. I’ll definitely do that as he is an amazing coach and an outstanding person.”

The Quetta-based player reiterated that the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) and the PSB should send boxers to train in either the UK or Cuba to help them prepare for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“So far we haven’t received any notification from the federation regarding training out-of-station,” said Waseem. “We don’t even have a calendar yet. However, with the little money that I received, I’ll be looking to improve my preparations and would also be going to the national camp in Karachi on Monday.”

He added that PSB Director-General Akhtar Ganjera has been highly supportive of boxing and has promised more opportunities for Waseem to train abroad.

 

 

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