Pak boxers face tough test in Asiad

KARACHI: After having failed to live up to the expectations in the recently concluded 21st Commonwealth Games in Australia, national boxers will have to pass a much tougher test in the Asian Games slated to be held in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

The pugilists have very little time at their disposal, and the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) has asked the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for a camp for the Asiad from May 5.“Yes, we have requested PSB to give us camp from May 5 in Islamabad so that we can prepare well for the Asiad,” PBF secretary Col Nasir Tung told ‘The News’ on Wednesday.

“Time is very short and we have to do more work so that good preparations can be made,” Nasir said.Nasir said that the leading 30 boxers would be invited to the camp. He said that competitions in 49kg, 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 64kg, 69kg and 75kg weight categories would be held in Indonesia. It means experienced boxer Awais Ali Khan (81kg) will have no chance to become part of the squad.

Women will compete in the 51kg, 57kg and 60kg categories. “It is not yet final in which weights we will send our female entries but we will hold a camp in all three weights for women,” the official said.But mere training in Islamabad will not be enough for such a tough challenge in which some strong central Asian nations like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will also compete.

“We are in talks with both Uzbekistan and Iran. Our plan is to send our cream to Iran for a few days and then to Uzbekistan for full-fledged training. It would be of great benefit if we are able to give some exposure to our boxers,” Nasir said.

Pakistan coach Arshad Hussain, meanwhile, has said that without proper foreign training the boxers would not be able to perform in Indonesia.“What I think is that the Asian Games are much tougher than the Commonwealth Games. We will have to face Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Japan, Korea and Thailand boxers there who have a very good standard. To compete with them our boxers will require high quality training on foreign soil,” Arshad said.

When asked if Awais would reduce his weight to become part of the Asian Games, Arshad said: “It would be very difficult for him to lose six kilogrammes as it will weaken him,” Arshad said.