Boxers begin preparing for Bangkok qualifying event

LAHORE: National boxers have launched their preparation for the final qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics here at the PSB Coaching Centre.

The world qualifying event will be held at Bangkok from May 25 to June 2.

The camp is being handled by experienced coaches Arshad Hussain and Tariq Siddiqui.

“We have five female boxers and three male fighters currently in the camp. Army’s pugilists will join us after their Inter-Services event,” coach Arshad Hussain told The News.

“Sumama, Ihsanullah and Idrees are in the camp while Sanaullah and Mohibullah will join us tomorrow. Fatima Zehra, Zoha, Areeba, Malaika and Sehar are the female fighters with us while a girl from PAF will join us after her examination,” said Arshad, also a former Olympian.

“On Monday a handful of sparring partners will also join us. We have very short time at our disposal and we cannot spend much time on a particular area and effort will be made to cover all bases within the stipulated timeline,” Arshad said.

“For a week we will work intensively on fitness with workout on skills also and after that we will raise training,” the coach said.