Awais downs Indian boxer to qualify for World C’ships

KARACHI: Pakistan’s highly talented boxer Awais Ali Khan qualified for the World Championships when he defeated India’s Manish Panwar in the light heavyweight box off fight of the Asian Boxing Championships at the Uzbekistan Sports Complex in Tashkent on Saturday.

Awais, who had lost to Kazakhstan’s boxer Yerik Alzhanov in the quarter-finals, prevailed over Panwar 3-2 after a tough battle in the box off fight.

“It was a tough fight like a war on the border and Almighty Allah helped me and I emerged triumphant,” Awais told ‘The News’ from Tashkent after his thrilling win.

As per the rules, six boxers in each weight category from the Asian Championships will feature in the World Championships to be held in Hamburg, Germany, later this summer.

The points break-up from the five judges was 30-27, 28-29, 29-28, 28-29, 30-27 in favour of Awais.

Awais, who belongs to Army, had defeated Mohammad Alyazouri of Jordon 5-0 in an enthralling pre-quarter-final.

Meanwhile Pakistan’s heavyweight boxer Sanaullah gave a walkover in the 91kg box off to Fengkai Yu of China due to injury. Sanaullah had received a deep cut at the lower lip during his quarter-final the other day, a team official told ‘The News’.

He had lost to Jakhon Qurbanov of Tajikistan in the quarter-finals.

In the pre-quarter-final, Sanaullah had knocked out NJ Namal Jayaweera of Sri Lanka in the second round.

In the continental event, Pakistan had fielded seven boxers and out of them only three were able to produce victories with Awais emerging as the most successful of the lot.

Besides Awais and Sanaullah, Gul Zeb (69kg) was the other boxer to have won a fight.

Mohibullah, Suleman Baloch, Tanvir Ahmad and Syed Mohammad Asif had to face pre-mature exits when they conceded their opening bouts in the competitions in which 202 pugilists from 29 nations battled for supremacy.

Pakistan Boxing Federation (PFB) secretary Nasir Tung was happy with Awais’s achievements. “He is a fine boxer and the World Championships would add to his experience,” Nasir said.

After Pakistan’s premier boxer Mohammad Waseem severed his ties with amateur boxing when he entered pro arena in early 2015, Pakistan was left in deep trouble in international circuit. However, it is now hoped that Awais, who has enormous guts as a fighter, will bear the burden of Pakistan’s boxing. Tanvir Ahmed is another talented pugilist who can turn out to be a medal-winner in international circuit.

And Pakistan’s 3-star coach Ali Bakhsh agreed. “Yes, both Tanvir and Awais are highly talented. They can turn out to be sole medal winners for the country in future.

“I was expecting a medal from Awais in Tashkent but luck did not favour him despite his superb fight against a fine boxer from Kazakhstan in the quarter-final,” Ali conceded.

He said that the World Championships experience would further polish Awais, who is a valiant fighter.

Now the next target of Pakistani pugilists is the Islamic Games to be held in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku from May 12-22.

In the Asian Championships squad, only two changes have been made for the Baku assignment. Sanaullah and Gul Zeb will return home from Tashkent and Arshad Hussain (69kg) and Niamatullah (60kg) will join the rest of the team in Baku on May 9.

“Yes, Gul and Sanaullah will return and the rest of the boxers will proceed to Baku directly from Tashkent. They will be joined by Niamat and Arshad along with the coaches,” a PBF official said.