Three-member squad named for boxing qualifiers

LAHORE: Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) have finalised a three-member squad for the final world qualifying round for this year’s Paris Olympics which will be held in Bangkok from May 23 to June 2.

New York-based Mohammad Rizwan (71kg) will make his international debut. Mohammad Faheem and Fatima Zehra are the other two who have been picked for the purpose. However, Fatima’s participation in the event is subject to availability of funds.

Tariq Siddiqui will accompany the squad as coach. Tariq has been given the chance to accompany the squad after a long time and it is expected that he will handle his charges quite well. He also has a big hand in professional fighter Mohammad Waseem’s growth.

This correspondent has learnt that Rizwan attended the trials here and he will join the squad in Bangkok which will host the crucial event. Mohammad Faheem has been selected in the light flyweight category. Faheem, who belongs to Army, has replaced former Asian bronze medallist Zohaib Rasheed who ditched the country when he vanished in Italy recently just ahead of the World Qualifying event 1.

This was the third boxer who ditched Pakistan since August 2022. In August 2022 Suleman Baloch and Nazirullah vanished in Birmingham after featuring in the Commonwealth Games. This is the third time that PBF is fielding its fighters in the qualifying events. The 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou last year was the first qualifying event where national fighters failed to earn an Olympic seat.

And then in Italy’s first world qualifying event the only hope Zohaib ditched the country which was a huge blow to the country’s image and boxing. A senior official of PBF told The News that both Faheem and Rizwan are good boxers and he expects a lot from them.

“Both are fine boxers and hopefully they will fight well,” the official said. Faheem beat Zohaib Rasheed in the final of the National Championship held in Karachi last time. He is a bold, aggressive fighter and has the ability to unsettle any fighter on a given day.