Support for boxing

Things seem to be falling in place for Muhammad Waseem, who successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight world crown in Seoul on November 27. The 29-year-old boxer from Quetta tamed Filipino Giemel Magramo in a 12-round fight. On his arrival, Waseem was greeted with the positive news that he had been appointed ambassador of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi, with the team’s owner also dishing out a reward of Rs2.5 million for the boxer. Later, the federal government also finally made a move by announcing a substantial grant of Rs30 million for the boxer, who is aiming to become our first world champion in the cut-throat world of professional boxing. According to the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) the grant which has been approved by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be spent on Waseem’s training programme.

In the lead up to the fight in Seoul, Waseem had lamented the lack of support from both the government and the corporate sector. The talented boxer is aiming to become the first Pakistani to win a world professional boxing title and deserves all possible support. This is not just about one boxer or a world title but about Pakistan boxing, which can receive a new lease of life through the achievements of Waseem. Pakistan, which once enjoyed the services of world-class pugilists like Hussain Shah and Abrar Hussain, has lost its status as one of the major boxing nations in the region. It could experience a revival because of boxers like Waseem. That is precisely the reason one hopes that the announcements made by Peshawar Zalmi and the PSB are followed by more support from other quarters. Once the required financial backing is in place, the onus will be on Waseem to build up on his early professional success and win the world title for Pakistan. The way he has been going, such a feat doesn’t seem far away.