No mention of Anwar Chowdhry at AIBA web raises eyebrows

KARACHI: Former AIBA chief Professor Anwar Chowdhry’s name has surprisingly been missed by the world body in its history details which it has given on its official website, writes Alam Zeb Safi.

The late Chowdhry, who died on June 19, 2010, at Karachi, served for 20 years as AIBA chief from 1986 to 2006. He was undisputedly the longest serving president of AIBA. He also remained AIBA’s vice-president from 1966 to 1974 and secretary general from 1974 to 1986 which means that he overall served for 40 years in different capacities.

AIBA’s website carries the names of AIBA’s presidents, including Emile Gremaux of France (1946-1959), Rudyard H Russell of England (1962-1974), Nikiforov Denisov of former USSR (1974-1978), Col Don F Hull of the US (1978-1986) and Dr Ching-Kuo Wu of Chinese Taipei (2006-2017) but it has missed out Chowdhry which has raised many eyebrows in Pakistan.

This correspondent wrote to AIBA for seeking its official version on the issue a couple of days ago but it had not responded till filing of this story.Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) president Khalid Mehmood said they would take up the issue with AIBA.

“I have come to know about it through you. Insha Allah we will take up the case,” Khalid told this correspondent on Wednesday.Former international referee and judge Ali Akbar Shah said that it was a blunder. “Chowdhry is a great name in AIBA’s history and ignoring him is a huge mistake,” Shah told this correspondent.

“I would request AIBA’s interim president Gafur Rakhimov to correct it and put Chowdhry’s name there. Gafur served as AIBA’s vice-president with Chowdhry and was his close friend. I hope he will promptly take corrective measure,” Shah said.

Pakistan’s only Olympic medallist boxer Hussain Shah questioned how such a great personality could be ignored. “Chowdhry is the integral part of AIBA and it is injustice not to mention his name in AIBA’s history carried by its website,” Shah told ‘The News’ from Tokyo.

In 2006, Chowdhry lost to Dr Ching-Kuo Wu of Chinese Taipei by a close margin of four votes. Chowdhry was also the highest decorated sports administrator of the world. Some of the awards conferred on Chowdhry include: ANOC Merit Award (1992), IOC Olympic Order, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Award (1994), UNESCO Award (1995), LEONARDO Prize (1995), World Boxing Council (WBC) Award (1995), AIBA Award (1996), EABA Award, Kazakhstan Olympic Order (1999), Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan’s highest civil awards.

In 1962, Chowdhry laid the foundation of the Asian boxing governing body (FAAB) and served as its unopposed Secretary General from 1962 to 1990. From 1990 till 2006 he remained its president.

Chowdhry also worked as secretary of the PBF from 1959 to 1984 and acted as PBF president from 1984 to 2004. From 2004 to 2008 he delivered his services as PBF chairman.

Chowdhry’s tenure as head of the PBF was a golden period of Pakistan’s boxing as national pugilists won plenty of medals, particularly at the Asian level.

Hussain Shah, the country’s prolific boxer of the 1980s, won a bronze for the country in 1988 Seoul Olympics during the period.

Former PBF secretary Akram Khan said it was unbelievable. “It’s great injustice with Chowdhry and AIBA should correct its history,” said Akram, who was groomed by Chowdhry.