Women’s boxing: PBF seeks approval to hold camp for SAF Games

Peshawar hoping to formally hold camp; eight girls training already

KARACHI: As female boxers continue training in Karachi, the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) is making plans for the country’s women to make their international debut at the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in three weight categories — 51, 60 and 75kg.

“The SAF entries need to be sent in three categories and we want to have a proper representation in the women’s competition,” PBF secretary Iqbal Hussain told The Express Tribune, adding that the federation requires a formal approval from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the government to initiate a national camp and begin preparations.

The secretary said the camp would include boxers between the ages of 18 and 40 from all over the country. “If the PSB approves the camp, we will ensure that we have representation from Peshawar, Balochistan, Karachi and other regions.”

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He further said that a good performance at the SAF Games would help encourage Pakistan to compete at the AIBA Women’s World Championship in July 2016 as well.

Boxing in Peshawar

“We’ve asked the government to support us in setting up a camp in Peshawar as well,” said Hussain.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Boxing Association secretary Kamal Shah has already been training eight girls for the past three months informally at the Qayyum Stadium with the help of his wife Dr Shehnaz.

Shah said that initiating women’s boxing in Peshawar has been a tough task as the cultural norms do not support the sport in regards to women, but he started off at home with his wife and 11-year-old daughter Hadia, who also trains with the other girls five days a week and at least three hours daily.

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“It’s tough, but we are trying because women are competing in every other sport. The AIBA also wants us to come at par with the rest of the world,” said Shah. “So far, the results aren’t so bad, but we need the government’s support which will help the players and their families put more trust in us,” he added while saying they would field 15 women in the national camp if the PSB approves of the idea.

The official concluded by saying the initial step toward developing women’s boxing — besides initiating camps — was to send at least two female boxers for an AIBA coaching qualification course.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2015.

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