England-based boxer Daniyal wants to play for Pakistan

KARACHI: These days foreign-based Pakistani players are taking keen interest in representing their country of origin.
In martial arts, football and swimming several such players have been representing Pakistan in international circuit. In boxing too such trend has been seen. British world-class boxer Amir Khan’s younger brother Haroon is one of such precedents.
Haroon lifted bronze medal on his debut for Pakistan in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. However, he then opted to play professional boxing.
In the meantime several other British-based boxers were seen to flex their muscles for Pakistan but they were far beyond the required standard. One such aspirant is 19-year old Daniyal Khan who has been undergoing training here at PSB Coaching Centre Karachi for the last ten days.
On Tuesday, he was seen doing sparring with the home-grown boxers with his father Salim Khan and Nigerian coach Victor Segun busy offering him all kind of assistance.
Although Daniyal has been playing in England and has also reached the final of the ABA boxing event but from his sparring it seemed that the young lad would need a lot of hard work to make himself able to represent Pakistan in the future.
His coach Victor also feels that.
“We wanted Daniyal to train here so that he could adapt to the conditions,” Victor told ‘The News’ on the sideline of the training camp which also carries the country’s star boxer and the 2014 Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist Mohammad Waseem.
“It is a learning stage for Daniyal. We are going to groom him. He is also learning from Mohammad Waseem. It’s just the beginning and I am confident Daniyal would represent Pakistan at international level,” said Victor, who also serves as broker in England stock-exchange.
Daniyal said he was keen to represent Pakistan.
“My aim is to play for Pakistan,” said Daniyal, who compete in 56 kilogramme.
“I am learning fast. We are here for few days and will go back soon. But I will be ready to come for trials whenever I will be asked by the authorities,” said Daniyal, whose younger brother Shams Khan is also a boxer.
But his ambitions are very high as he wants to turn pro in future.
“My ultimate aim is to play professional boxing. But before that I would like to play amateur boxing for Pakistan,” said Daniyal, who cannot speak Urdu.
Daniyal lives in Epping with his parents, a market town in Essex.
Daniyal’s father Salim Khan, who has born in Italy, said Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain told him that Daniyal would be sent to Doha for the World Championships in October.
“He told me that Daniyal should train in Pakistan for 15 days and he will be given an opportunity in the World Championships,” said Salim, who has also done a boxing course and has been a national level weightlifter in England. He is now doing business.
Salim says British boxer Amir Khan had told him that he should send Daniyal to Pakistan for training.
“Amir’s father is my friend. Amir has seen Daniyal and it was he who told me that Daniyal could improve if we send him to Pakistan so that he could adapt to the conditions and face different challenges,” said Salim.
Daniyal trains at the former European champion Spencer Oliver’s boxing club in Finchley. “Daniyal is a good boxer and can improve,” Waseem told this correspondent.