Attaullah through in junior boxing

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Attaullah has cruised into the second round of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) World Youth Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Attaullah overpowered Jordan’s Malik Hussain Yamni 16-3 in the bantam-weight category. “I fought for Pakistan,” the 17- year- old told The Express Tribune. “I’m going to be the first boxer to qualify for the first Summer Olympics and for that I’m thankful to our coach who is treating us like professionals and not just teenagers trying to box.” Attaullah had a hard time getting in front of the crowd and he admitted that he even lost composure in the middle of the fight but regained his confidence thanks to coach Francisco Hernendez Ronald. He will now face a Dominican Republic opponent in the next round.

“We’ll have at least two of our boxers qualify for August’s Summer Olympics because luckily their draws are easier than what we had expected earlier,” said team manager Iqbal Hussain. Earlier, Pakistan’s Obaid Ali lost to Jordan’s Amjad Mohammad Ahmed 7-4 in the super flyweight category while Muhammad Tanveer will take on a Mauritian boxer in the welterweight category for the third round fight today.