Pak boxers’ Olympic quest resumes tomorrow

LAHORE: Pakistan will begin their Paris Olympics World Boxing Qualifier 2 journey when Mohammad Faheem takes on Ireland’s Sean Mari in his 51 kilogramme preliminaries on Saturday (tomorrow) in Bangkok.

Faheem, who belongs to Army, will be making his international debut in what appears to be a tough event keeping in view the large numbers of boxers set to contest for Olympics seats.

Faheem is a valiant fighter and he is hopeful that he will deliver in Bangkok. “Although it is my debut event I am confident to perform,” Faheem told ‘The News’ from Bangkok on Thursday. “We have trained well and coaches have worked on me. There is no pressure on me as I have been taught by my coach to take the things easy and play up to the potential,” Faheem said.

Faheem has got the opportunity to represent Pakistan after former Asian bronze medallist Zohaib Rasheed ditched the country by vanishing just before formal kick-off of the Paris Olympics World Qualifier 1 in Italy a couple of months back. Faheem is famous for his aggressive boxing but he has also improved his skills.

“Yes I have worked hard on my skills and am fully focused on the job,” Faheem said. In Faheem’s weight category there are 51 boxers set to contest for four Olympics seats. There will be no semi-finals and finals and no medals will be offered.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s New York-based fighter Jahanzeb Rizwan was on Thursday drawn with Mohd Aswan Bin Che Azmi of Malaysia in the 71 kilogramme preliminaries to be held on Sunday.

There are 70 boxers in this weight category which offers five Olympics seats. Rizwan directly came to Bangkok from New York. He will also make his international debut. Rizwan had attended trials in Lahore and authorities were impressed by his talent and picked him for the event.